Ground jay
Genus of birds
title: "Ground jay" type: doc version: 1 created: 2026-02-28 author: "Wikipedia contributors" status: active scope: public tags: ["podoces"] description: "Genus of birds" topic_path: "general/podoces" source: "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ground_jay" license: "CC BY-SA 4.0" wikipedia_page_id: 0 wikipedia_revision_id: 0
::summary Genus of birds ::
| name = Ground jays | image = Turkestan Ground-Jay.jpg | image_caption = Turkestan ground jay | taxon = Podoces | authority = Fischer von Waldheim, 1821 | type_species = Podoces panderi | type_species_authority = Fischer von Waldheim, 1821 | subdivision_ranks = Species | subdivision =
The ground jays or ground choughs belong to a distinct group of the passerine order of birds in the genus Podoces of the crow family Corvidae. They inhabit high altitude semi-desert areas from central Asia to Mongolia.
Ground jays show adaptations to ground living such as long, strong legs adapted to fast running and the ability to leap and bound onto boulders and rocks with great agility. Their long, curved thick bills are adapted for digging and probing.
While capable of flight (which they do infrequently and relatively weakly), they prefer running, and will readily perch on trees and bushes also.
Species list
::data[format=table]
| Image | Scientific name | Common name | Distribution |
|---|---|---|---|
| [[File:Mongolian Ground Jay (Podoces hendersoni) - Хулан жороо (16566349299).jpg | 200px]] | Podoces hendersoni | Mongolian ground jay |
| [[File:PodocesBiddulphiKeulemans.jpg | 200px]] | Podoces biddulphi | Xinjiang ground jay |
| [[File:Podoces pleskei 199125839.jpg | 200px]] | Podoces pleskei | |
| [[File:Turkestan Ground-Jay.jpg | 200px]] | Podoces panderi | Turkestan ground jay |
| :: |
The ground tit (Pseudopodoces humilis), previously Hume's ground jay, has changed its placement within the Passeriformes recently because of molecular and osteological testing. It has now been placed into the Paridae.
References
References
- . ["Corvidae"](https://www.aviansystematics.org/4th-edition-checklist?viewfamilies=151). *The Trust for Avian Systematics*.
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