The jay is a noisy bird. It lives in forests and flies from tree to tree, singing noisily. A captured jay can be kept in a cage and can be taught to talk. If such a bird escapes back to the forest, it is even noisier than before.

Many sources do not distinguish between the jay (garrulus) and the jackdaw (graculus).

Jays represent gossips, those who take pleasure in repeating gossip and listening to slander. The escaped jay represents the man who leaves a monastic order, and turns his gift of speech to slander.