Jays in Norway
When the Jay (Garrulus glandarius) is present in Norway, when it nests, and which native Norway plants supply the food it depends on.
- Status in Norway
- Resident all year
- Nesting season
- May–June
- Size
- 34 cm, 170 g
- Nest box
- Does not use enclosed boxes
When to expect jays in Norway
The Jay lives in Norway all year round. Coastal winters are milder than latitude suggests; inland winters are severe.
Mild maritime on the Gulf Stream coast, cold continental inland and Arctic in the north.
Nesting in Norway
In Norway the Jay usually nests May–June. Nest site: twig cup in trees. Clutches are 4–5 eggs, incubated for 16–17 days; chicks fledge after 21–23 days, and pairs raise 1 per year.
- The Jay does not use enclosed nest boxes — dense native shrubs and climbers give it nest sites.
- Avoid cutting hedges during the nesting season (roughly March to August) — in the UK, disturbing an active nest is an offence under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981.
Native Norway plants for jays
Of the native plants we track for Norway, these 2 provide food the Jay uses:
Supports more insect life than any other European tree; acorns for Jays.
Hazelnuts for Nuthatches, Jays and Great Spotted Woodpeckers.
Feeding in the garden
Acorns (buries thousands), insects and eggs.
- Best foods: Peanuts, Whole acorns.
- Feeders: Open table.
- Each Jay buries up to 5,000 acorns every autumn — planting oak woods.
Frequently asked questions
Frequently asked
Are jays in Norway all year?
Yes — the Jay is resident in Norway all year.
When do jays nest in Norway?
Typically May–June. Clutches are 4–5 eggs, incubated for 16–17 days, with 1 per year.
Which native plants help jays in Norway?
Pedunculate oak, Hazel are native to Norway and provide food or cover the Jay uses.
Jays in other countries
Other garden birds in Norway
Sources
Timing reflects typical patterns for the region as a whole; local dates vary with elevation and year. Check the linked eBird bar charts for your county.