gray jay

noun

1. a gray jay, Perisoreus canadensis, of northern North America, noted for its boldness in stealing food from houses, traps, camps, etc.

Word History and Origins

Origin of gray jay¹

First recorded in 1935–40

Example Sentences

There, we shared the lovely view of pond lilies and meadows with only some curious gray jays.

From Washington Post

There’s a chance of spotting boreal wildlife such as snowshoe hare, gray jays, and possibly even an American marten.

From Seattle Times

The bay-breasted warbler, spruce grouse and gray jay are all birds that live in the area that can be tricky to spot in New England.

From Washington Times

And gray jays like people when they meet them, alighting on their clothing or hands in the hope of a snack.

From New York Times

A contest held by Canadian Geographic magazine led to the nomination of the gray jay.

From New York Times