Words for jays in Celtic languages.
| Irish (Gaeilge) | scréachóg = jay, shrill-voiced bird scréachóg choille = (Eurasian) jay (Garrulus glandarius) |
|---|---|
| Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig) | sgreuchag [sɡrʲiaxaɡ] = jay, nightjar, heron, gull, owl (a screeching bird); screacher, screamer; shrill woman sgreuchag-choille [sɡrʲiaxaɡ xɤl̪ʲə] = (Eurasian) jay |
| Manx (Gaelg) | screeaghag = jay screeaghag cheylley = (Eurasian) jay |
| Welsh (Cymraeg) | (y)sgrech [(ə)sˈkreːχ] = jay, starling; scream, screech, shriek (y)sgrechog [(ə)sˈkreːχɔɡ] = jay, parrot; screaming, screeching, squealing (y)sgrech y coed [(ə)sˈkreːχ ə kɔid] = (Eurasian) jay, starling |
Etymology: these all mean something like “screecher / screamer (of the woods)”.
| Cornish (Kernewek) | kegin = jay |
|---|---|
| Breton (Brezhoneg) | kegin-derv = (Eurasian) jay |
Etymology: unknown
Sources: Wiktionary, Am Faclair Beag, MacBain’s Dictionary, In Dúil Bélrai English – Old-Irish Glossary, teanglann.ie, On-Line Manx Dictionary, Geiriadur Prifysgol Cymru, Gerlyver Kernewek, Dictionnaire Favereau, TermOfis
Blue Jays in Michigan have a deeper blue color than you show in your picture. Here is a view of a typical Jay here:
https://michpics.wordpress.com/2012/09/28/things-you-may-not-know-about-blue-jays/
Like the ones in your neck of the woods, Simon, the Blue Jays here live up to the Celtic definition of the word: Screaming, screeching, squealing, etc. Their calls are loud, annoying and once they get started, they don’t seem to tire of their tirade for at least an hour. If there is any shortage of Blue Jays in Wales, you are WELCOME to take some of ours, with my complements :-))
The blue jay (Cyanocitta cristata) is a completely different species and we don’t have them here. They’re called sgrech las (“blue/green screech”) in Welsh,