Gray Jay (Whiskey Jack)
Birds
Banff National Park, Bow Valley
The gray jay (Perisoreus canadensis), also known as whisky jack or Canada jay, is a medium-sized corvid found year-round in boreal and subalpine forests throughout Banff National Park. Bold and curious around people, they often approach hikers and skiers at rest stops and picnic areas.
Identification: Soft gray plumage, darker on the back and cap, with a white forehead and throat. Slightly smaller than a blue jay. Known for their tame, inquisitive behaviour; they may land on hands or pack straps when offered food, though feeding wildlife is prohibited in the park.
Habitat and diet: Gray jays live in coniferous and mixed forest, caching food in tree bark and under lichen for winter. They eat insects, berries, seeds, fungi, and scraps. The name “whisky jack” comes from wiisakajaak in Algonquian languages (Cree), referring to a trickster figure.
Viewing: Common at trailheads, campgrounds, and ski areas. Do not feed; habituation harms both birds and visitors.
The resort’s Whiskeyjack Lodge is named after this bird.