Turquoise Jay Cyanolyca turcosa

The Turquoise Jay is a vibrant blue bird with the black mask and collar characteristic of many species of Cyanolyca jays. It is considered relatively common and seems more tolerant of human-disturbed habitats than some of its relatives, but many aspects of its natural history, and population size and trends, remain unknown. The Turquoise Jay is found in humid, montane evergreen forests and elfin forests on both sides of the Andes from Colombia to Peru, with a center of abundance in Ecuador.  This jay forages for insects and other food items in the canopy or in patches of dense, relatively short vegetation, often in small groups and mixed flocks.