A baby Piam-piam

The other evening, the Brown Jays (Cyanocorax morio) were scolding like mad when I took our little dog for a walk. That's just kind of what jays do, noisy cantankerous birds that they are. Belizeans often call them Piam-piam for the calls they make (check out Brown Jay vocalizations here; if you scroll toward the bottom of the page, you'll find the recording from Rio Bravo Research Area in Belize -- that's just north of us about 30 miles).

Brown Jays are found in open areas, like the Gallon Jug farm and many many other habitats as well. As it turns out, the adult jays made it clear that we were being warned away from this recent Brown Jay fledgling (above). The stumpy tail and yellow eye-ring give it away as a youngster. Although it was on the ground, it wasn't marooned or in any great distress. In fact, it was making short experimental flights and even gaining a little altitude as the adults squawked nearby. I have no doubt they were shouting encouragement as it found its wings.