White-throated magpie-jays are cooperative breeders, with family members helping a breeding pair to care for and raise young.

Mating System: polygynandrous (promiscuous) ; cooperative breeder

White-throated magpie-jays generally breed from January through April. In small groups, one female breeder is typically responsible for incubating all of the eggs, and rarely leaves the nest during this time. Other females bring food to her throughout the incubation process. Males do not play an active role in reproduction, outside of the initial act of fertilizing the eggs.

Breeding interval: White-throated magpie-jays generally breed once in the first 4 months of the year, however under circumstances in which the first nest is lost or fails the birds will lay more eggs.

Breeding season: Breeding occurs from January through April.

Range eggs per season: 2 to 6.

Average eggs per season: 3-4.

Average fledging age: 23 days.

Range age at sexual or reproductive maturity (female): 8 to 14 months.

Range age at sexual or reproductive maturity (male): 8 to 14 months.

Key Reproductive Features: seasonal breeding ; gonochoric/gonochoristic/dioecious (sexes separate)

Young birds are fed in the nest by their mother and other helper females. Females typically stay within the same natal area as they mature, whereas males generally leave the flock either to join another group or to move from group to group.

Parental Investment: altricial ; female parental care ; pre-fertilization (Provisioning, Protecting: Female); pre-hatching/birth (Provisioning: Female); pre-weaning/fledging (Provisioning: Female); post-independence association with parents