It is visually very similar to the tufted jay, which found in Mexico over 4,800 km (3,000 mi) away, and the two species were incorrectly thought to be close relatives.

The white-tailed jay lives in semi-humid, semi-open woodlands, preferring to remain near thick vegetation close to rivers and streams.

The white-tailed jay is considered a species of least concern by the International Union for Conservation of Nature, although its population has seen notable decreases in some regions.

[3] It is now placed in the genus Cyanocorax, which was introduced by the German zoologist Friedrich Boie in 1826.

This study also demonstrated that the white-tailed jay was monophyletic, although its exact position in relation to others in the genus was ambiguous.

[8] The following cladogram (simplified from the 2010 mitochondrial DNA study) shows the relationship between species in the genus Cyanocorax.

[11] Juveniles have brown irises and lack both the white spot above the eye and the moustachial stripe.

[14] The white-tailed jay is non-migratory and can be found from northwestern Peru to southwestern Ecuador.

Within these areas, it prefers to remain near thick patches of vegetation close to rivers and streams.

It will approach human settlements and steal eggs from domestic ducks and chickens, and one pair has been observed raiding the nest of a pale-legged hornero.

[15] The white-tailed jay forages in flocks of up to ten individuals, but can also commonly be seen singly or in a pair.

[2] The white-tailed jay is considered a species of least concern by the International Union for Conservation of Nature.

Because of the white-tailed jay's relatively restricted range, the primary threat to its survival is habitat destruction.

[10] There are currently no conservation plans in place for the white-tailed jay; however, it does occur within the Tumbesian region Endemic Bird Area and has been observed breeding there.