If you’ve ever caught a sudden flash of pinkish brown feathers and brilliant blue wing bars darting through the trees, chances are you’ve spotted the Eurasian jay. Often heard before it’s seen, this striking and secretive bird is a woodland resident that plays a quiet but important role in the life of the forest.

Jays are part of the crow family, but they’re much more colourful than their relatives. They have a pale pinkish body, black and white markings, and a distinctive patch of bright blue feathers on each wing. While they can look exotic, they are in fact native and widespread across woodlands in the UK and Ireland.

One of the best places to spot a jay is during a walk through mixed woodland, particularly in quiet areas with lots of oak trees. Jays are known as the forest’s acorn planters. Each autumn, they collect and bury hundreds of acorns to store for winter. The clever part is, they don’t find them all again! Many of those forgotten acorns grow into new oak trees, helping woodlands regenerate naturally. In this way, the jay plays an essential role in shaping the future of the forest.

In places like Garvagh Forest, you might hear a jay’s loud, rasping call echoing through the trees. It’s often described as a harsh screech, quite different from its delicate appearance. Or as it’s known in Irish, Scréachóg choille, meaning screecher of the woods. It’s a fitting name for a bird more often heard than seen as jays are usually shy and fly off quickly when disturbed. If you move quietly and scan the canopy or listen for movement in the undergrowth, you might be lucky enough to glimpse one.

Although they are quite secretive, jays are intelligent and adaptable birds. They eat a varied diet, including acorns, nuts, seeds, insects, and sometimes even eggs or young birds. In spring and early summer, you may see pairs moving through the trees, as they nest in dense branches and raise their chicks out of sight.

The Eurasian jay is a brilliant example of how every creature in the forest has a role to play. With their keen memory, resourcefulness, and accidental tree planting skills, they are woodland guardians in their own right.

So next time you’re walking quietly through the trees, keep your eyes peeled for a flash of blue and listen out for that harsh call in the canopy above. The forest is full of life, and the jay is one of its most colourful secrets.