The UK Jay population remained stable in the species' preferred woodland habitat until the late 1980s, after which the population began to decline. This decrease followed an earlier decline on farmland CBC plots (Gregory & Marchant 1996). With the losses since the 1980s now regained, long-term trends are stable overall. The BBS map of change in relative density between 1994-96 and 2007-09 indicates that increases occurred almost everywhere during this period, with the exception of parts of central southern England. Mean brood size appears to have increased by half a chick since 1968, and nest success has also improved, so the number of fledglings per breeding attempt has increased, though all demographic measures are based on small samples. There has been an increase across Europe since 1980 (PECBMS: PECBMS 2020a>).

Jay's winter distribution has expanded since the 1981–84 Winter Atlas, with an 86% range expansion in Ireland and a 16% expansion in Britain, where there have been major gains in Scotland.

Bird Atlas distribution change maps show how bird distributions have changed through time. Coloured upward-pointing triangles show places apparently colonised over the period; grey downward-pointing triangles show places apparently vacated. Shading show places occupied.

Click the map to enlarge,
or view it on Bird Atlas Mapstore.

Click the map to enlarge,
or view it on Bird Atlas Mapstore.

Jay is recorded throughout the year but detections peak in autumn when birds disperse or are actively seen caching food for the winter.

Weekly pattern of occurrence

The graph shows when the species is present in the UK, with taller bars indicating a higher likelihood of encountering the species in appropriate regions and habitats.

Relative frequency by habitat

The graph shows the habitats occupied in the breeding season, with the most utilised habitats shown at the top. Bars of similar size indicate the species is equally likely to be recorded in those habitats.