Last Updated on August 21, 2026 Posted by
Canada’s boreal forest may look quiet beneath a blanket of snow, but the Canada jay is still at home. This curious grey-and-white bird relies on thick plumage, stored food and impressive adaptability throughout winter.
That resilient spirit is celebrated on the 2026 $20 Colourful Birds: Canada Jays Fine Silver Coin. As the sixth release in the Royal Canadian Mint’s Colourful Birds series, the coin combines fine silver, selective colour and a peaceful winter scene to showcase one of Canada’s most recognizable northern residents.
Quick Facts About the 2026 Canada Jays Coin
The 2026 Canada Jays coin is a one-ounce, 99.99% pure silver proof coin with a limited worldwide mintage of 7,500.
| Feature | Details |
| Face value | $20 |
| Composition | 99.99% pure silver with selective colour |
| Weight | 31.39 g or 1 oz. |
| Diameter | 38 mm |
| Finish and edge | Proof with a serrated edge |
| Mintage | 7,500 worldwide |
| Artists | Tony Bianco, reverse; Steven Rosati, obverse |
| Presentation | Capsule, RCM clamshell, beauty box and serialized certificate |
A Closer Look at the Canada Jays Coin Design
Canadian artist Tony Bianco’s reverse design places viewers at eye level with a pair of Canada jays. One rests on a white pine branch while the other swoops into the scene. Selective colour highlights their grey-and-white plumage and evergreen perch.
An engraved, snow-covered path winds toward a distant log cabin. The contrast between the coloured evergreens and frosty silver landscape reflects the series theme: nature offers colour in every season.
The obverse features the effigy of His Majesty King Charles III by Canadian artist Steven Rosati. Each coin is encapsulated and presented in Royal Canadian Mint-branded packaging with a serialized certificate.
What Is a Canada Jay?
The Canada jay is an intelligent, curious member of the corvid family, which also includes crows, ravens and other jays. Its scientific name is Perisoreus canadensis.
Canada jays have rounded heads, short bills and thick plumage. Adults are mainly grey and white, with darker colouring on the backs of their heads. These bold birds often investigate unfamiliar sights and potential food sources, sometimes bringing them close to people in parks and forest campsites.
According to Environment and Climate Change Canada, the species is a widespread, year-round resident of Canada’s boreal coniferous forests. Its range extends from coast to coast and north toward the tree line. Canada jays also inhabit high-elevation subalpine forests where conifers provide food, shelter and nesting habitat.
What Do Canada Jays Do in Winter?
Canada jays remain in their northern territories throughout winter instead of migrating south. They survive by preparing food stores, conserving warmth and making full use of the surrounding forest.
Their food-caching behaviour is especially remarkable. Canada jays eat berries, insects, fungi, seeds, carrion and other available foods. They mix small items with sticky saliva and fasten them beneath bark, under lichen, among conifer needles or in tree crevices, often above the expected snow line.
The Cornell Lab of Ornithology notes that Canada jays store food year-round and successfully remember many hiding places. These reserves sustain them when fresh food is scarce.
On cold days, Canada jays puff up their dense feathers, creating insulating pockets of air and covering much of their legs and feet. Even their nostrils are feathered. They often roost close to conifer trunks, where branches provide shelter from the wind.
Canada jays may begin nesting in February or March while snow remains on the ground. Few birds offer a clearer example of how Canadian wildlife adapts to northern conditions.
Six Colourful Birds, One Beautiful Collection
Launched in 2021, the Royal Canadian Mint’s Colourful Birds series pairs a different bird with a seasonal Canadian setting and selective colour.
The six releases are:
- 2021 Colourful Birds: Blue Jay, featuring brilliant blue feathers and autumn maple leaves.
- 2022 Colourful Birds: Cedar Waxwing, surrounded by the soft blossoms of a flowering crab apple tree.
- 2023 Colourful Birds: Northern Cardinal, bringing vivid red to a snowy winter scene.
- 2024 Colourful Birds: American Goldfinch, celebrating the bright yellow bird amid summer colour.
- 2025 Colourful Birds: Baltimore Oriole, highlighting its striking orange-and-black plumage.
- 2026 Colourful Birds: Canada Jays, returning the series to winter with two hardy boreal birds.
Together, the coins form a tour through Canada’s seasons and birdlife. Check the individual Colonial Acres Coins product pages because availability can change.
Why Start a Colourful Birds Coin Collection?
The series offers a clear, manageable theme for someone new to collecting. Each release shares a one-ounce fine silver format but presents a different species, colour palette and habitat. The coins therefore look cohesive without becoming repetitive.
The coins may also appeal to established Royal Canadian Mint, wildlife, bird or Canadiana collectors. With 7,500 Canada Jays coins available worldwide, the 2026 release is a limited-mintage tribute to the northern forest.
It can also make a thoughtful gift for birdwatchers and nature enthusiasts. Collectors can begin with the newest coin and gradually search for earlier releases.
Bring Canada’s Winter Wildlife Into Your Collection
The 2026 $20 Colourful Birds Canada Jays coin captures more than the appearance of a northern songbird. Its design tells a story of preparation, resilience and life continuing through the quietest months of the year.
Purchase the 2026 Canada Jays coin from Colonial Acres Coins, and explore the earlier Colourful Birds releases to start or continue your collection. Colonial Acres Coins also offers a wide selection of Royal Canadian Mint products, Canadian coins, bullion, paper money and collecting supplies to help collectors at every stage.
Frequently Asked Questions
What number is the Canada Jays coin in the Colourful Birds series?
The 2026 Canada Jays coin is the sixth release in the Royal Canadian Mint’s Colourful Birds series. It follows the Blue Jay, Cedar Waxwing, Northern Cardinal, American Goldfinch and Baltimore Oriole coins issued annually from 2021 through 2025.
Do Canada jays stay in Canada during winter?
Yes. Canada jays are year-round residents across much of Canada’s boreal and coniferous forest. Instead of migrating south, they remain in their territories and rely on cached food, dense insulating feathers and sheltered conifer branches to manage cold and snowy conditions.
How do Canada jays store food for winter?
Canada jays combine small food items with sticky saliva and press them under bark, beneath lichen, among conifer needles or into tree crevices. They often store these caches above the expected snow line and return to them when naturally available winter food is limited.
Where can I buy the 2026 Colourful Birds Canada Jays coin?
The 2026 $20 Colourful Birds: Canada Jays Fine Silver Coin is available through Colonial Acres Coins. Visit the product page to review current pricing and availability, see product images and add the coin to your Royal Canadian Mint or wildlife-themed collection.
