Ground jay

{{Short description|Genus of birds}}

{{Automatic Taxobox

| name = Ground jays

| image = Turkestan Ground-Jay.jpg

| image_caption = Turkestan ground jay

| taxon = Podoces

| authority = Fischer von Waldheim, 1821

| type_species = Podoces panderi{{cite web |url= https://www.aviansystematics.org/4th-edition-checklist?viewfamilies=151 |title= Corvidae |author= |date= |website= aviansystematics.org |publisher= The Trust for Avian Systematics |access-date= 2023-07-16}}

| type_species_authority = Fischer von Waldheim, 1821

| subdivision_ranks = Species

| subdivision =

• Podoces hendersoni
• Podoces biddulphi
• Podoces pleskei
• Podoces panderi

}}

The ground jays or ground choughs belong to a distinct group of the passerine order of birds in the genus Podoces of the crow family Corvidae. They inhabit high altitude semi-desert areas from central Asia to Mongolia.

Ground jays show adaptations to ground living such as long, strong legs adapted to fast running and the ability to leap and bound onto boulders and rocks with great agility. Their long, curved thick bills are adapted for digging and probing.

While capable of flight (which they do infrequently and relatively weakly), they prefer running, and will readily perch on trees and bushes also.