Habitat
High-altitude, dry coniferous forest of mature spruce, and mixed fir and rhododendron forest, often with a poorly developed understorey. From 3,000 - 4,270 m.
Central China from extreme south-western Gansu southern along borders of northern Sichuan (Min Shan range), also extreme south-eastern Qinghai and extreme north-eastern and eastern Xizang.
Population
Estimated population is 2,500 - 9,999 (2010) and decreasing.
Status VU
Loss and fragmentation of forest through logging for timber and conversion to agriculture and pasture is the main threat.
For more information see BirdLife International Species Factsheet.
Habits
Forms small flocks in autumn, usually of five or six birds, but sometimes more than 10.
Food
Invertebrates, fruit.
Voice
Contact calls include high-pitched 'kyip' notes, sometimes extended to 'kyip kyip kyip kyip kyip ip ip ip ip', and a mewing, rising 'meeeoo-meeeoo'.
Sichuan Jay (Perisoreus internigrans) [XC23365]
by Frank Lambert from Mengbi Pass, Maerkang-Balangshan highway, Sichuan, China (call)
Sichuan Jay (Perisoreus internigrans) [XC69012]
by Nick Athanas from Jiuzhaigou, above Long Lake, China (call)
Subspecies
No subspecies.
In certain aspects of structure (particularly bill shape) appears close to Garrulus lanceolatus, and some plumage features (e.g. faint suggestion of barring on secondaries) echo that genus, but drabness of plumage (resembling juveniles of darker populations of Grey Jay (Perisoreus canadensis)) and vocalizations much nearer present genus. Could perhaps be considered a link between the two genera. On the other hand, recent DNA-sequencing indicates that this genus and Cyanopica form unique clades, separate from other corvids and significance of this requires further research, but it may suggest that Perisoreus is not very closely related to Garrulus. Probably forms a superspecies with Siberian Jay (Perisoreus infaustus) and Grey Jay (Perisoreus canadensis).
BirdLife International Species Factsheet