Sichuan Jay Perisoreus internigrans Chinese endemic, largely unstudied, rare, declining, and increasingly threatened by destruction and fragmentation of its high-altitude, coniferous-forest habitat. Range extends from the Min Mountains in southern Gansu and northern Sichuan west into southeastern Qinghai (Animaqing Mountains) and south into northeastern and eastern Tibet and western Sichuan. Reported at relatively few sites, chief among them Jiuzhaigou in northern Sichuan. Normally found between 3000 m and 4000 m. Omnivorous; takes insects, seeds and nuts, storing some of the nuts for use in winter. Monotypic. Superficially similar to Eurasian blackbird. Entire plumage sooty grey, darker (almost blackish) on head, throat, wings, and tail. Lighter grey below. Bill pale yellow; legs black. Plaintive, high-pitched, somewhat hawk-like cry. — Craig Brelsford
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
Daniel Bengtsson served as chief ornithological consultant for Craig Brelsford’s Photographic Field Guide to the Birds of China, from which this species description is drawn.
