The Blue-grey Tanager (Thraupis episcopus), locally called the “Blue Jean”, is one of the most familiar and well-loved birds in Trinidad and Tobago. Measuring about 17 cm (7 inches) in length, it is a medium-sized tanager that adapts readily to human presence. The species is commonly encountered in cultivated areas, suburban districts, gardens, light woodland, and forest edges, where it moves in active, noisy flocks.
This bird’s plumage is a soft bluish-grey, with brighter blue tones on the upperparts and a vivid violet-blue patch on the wing coverts. Tobago populations are particularly striking, showing darker and more brilliant colouration compared to their Trinidadian counterparts.
Its vocal repertoire consists of squeaky, high-pitched notes given in an irregular sequence, adding to its lively and restless behaviour. The diet is largely frugivorous, including a wide range of wild berries and cultivated fruits, such as tomatoes. Still, the species also consumes insects, either gleaned from foliage or caught in flight. It is a frequent visitor to feeding tables, where it readily accepts fruit and bread.
Breeding generally occurs between March and July. Nests are built high in trees, and the clutch is incubated for approximately 14 days. The fledging period lasts an additional 17 days, after which the young depart the nest under the care of their parents.