Gender Identification for Jays?

[jaelen]

Hello, all- I'm hoping someone can give me some advice on this...

we've had a pair of jays visit the garden off and on over the past week- I am presuming they are a mating pair. (The first time they came, I thought I was seeing the same bird over and over... a lot, because they seem to take it in turns to come down and feed.)

I have had a look online, and in all the bird books that I have, but there isn't any mention of how to identify the gender of jays- is it not possible to distinguish the male from the female?

I've uploaded some of the best photos I was able to get yesterday of them- the top two pics are one bird, the middle two the other... and I think the bottom two photos are bird #1, but I'm only guessing.

Thanks in advance for any help!

[Acipiter]

As far as I am aware Jaelen, there is no way to tell the difference in the field.

[Ferret]

To the best of my knowledge Jay cannot be sexed in the field and even in the hand it is only wing length that can give a clue in birds at either end of the spectrum, apparently males have longer wings than females.

Ferret

[htcdude]

Even with wing length they'll be cross-overs, so that's not a definite ID unless you get fully grown males.

Nige

[Acipiter]

I was just about to say the same thing Nige. There is one way, but better not go there

[jaelen]

That's great, thanks everyone... so when I see them again, I know not to worry about it!

[solus]

Originally Posted by jaelen

That's great, thanks everyone... so when I see them again, I know not to worry about it!

As long as they know, it'll be OK!!