Where does the Black-throated Magpie-Jay live?
Calocitta colliei
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Open the appThe Black-throated Magpie-Jay lives in specific habitats and regions. Knowing where, and when, to look improves your chances of a successful sighting.
Biomes
Dry tropical and subtropical forests, thorn scrub, forest edges, savannas, and sometimes agricultural areas with scattered trees.
Geographic range
Endemic to western Mexico, ranging from southern Sonora through Sinaloa, Nayarit, Jalisco, Colima, Michoacán, and Oaxaca.
Preferred environments
Prefers arid and semi-arid deciduous forests, mesquite woodlands, and thorn forest, often near human habitation or disturbed areas where food is readily available. They are less common in dense, undisturbed primary forest.
Elevation range
Primarily found from sea level up to approximately 1500 meters (4900 feet).
Where to look
Dry Deciduous Forests
Look in the mid-story and edges of dry deciduous forests, especially those with thorny trees and shrubs.
Thorn Scrub
Common in dense thorn scrub habitats, where they find both food and nesting sites.
Forest Edges and Riparian Zones
Often found along the edges of forests, near clearings, or in gallery forests along rivers and streams.
Cultivated Areas
Can be observed in agricultural fields with scattered trees, orchards, and rural gardens.
Field tips
- Listen for calls. Black-throated Magpie-Jays are very vocal. Learning their diverse calls will often lead you to their location before you spot them.
- Scan the mid-story. They frequently forage in the middle layers of vegetation but also visit the ground and canopy. Look for movement and flashes of blue, black, and white.
- Look for groups. These are social birds. If you find one, there are likely others nearby, often moving together noisily through the trees.
- Visit appropriate habitat. Focus on the dry, open woodlands and thorn scrub of western Mexico, avoiding dense, humid forests where they are generally absent.
Migration
Resident and non-migratory throughout its range.
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