The woodland birds are known as the shy members of the notoriously intelligent corvid family.
But birds were observed boldly stealing food from subordinates' hiding places in the University of Cambridge study.
Researchers found that the jays' strategy was dependent on the relative social rank of their opponent. The results are published in the journal Animal Behaviour.
Eurasian jays live in woodlands and feed primarily on acorns. Past studies by the University of Cambridge team have highlighted the birds' remarkable ability to plan for the future by storing thousands of the nuts and returning to them later.
Researchers were able to ascertain the social hierarchy of 14 birds after systematically introducing them in an outdoor aviary.
To further understand the jays' food-storing behaviour, scientists observed interactions between pairs of the birds after introducing a bowl of food, including their favourite acorns, to the test area.
"When dominant, jays in our study hid many food items, moved these items frequently and boldly approached food that had been hidden by their subordinate competitor, often stealing it in full view," said Professor Nicky Clayton who supervised the study led by Rachael Shaw.
"In contrast, when subordinate, the same jays were secretive when hiding food and when attempting to steal from others, preferring to wait until the competitor was at a distance before attempting to approach and steal their food stores."
Prof Clayton told BBC Nature that these changes in behaviour indicated that the birds were thinking about the situations.
"The flexible response to social context, both when hiding food and when stealing food, suggests that the [jays'] different hiding and stealing tactics may be based on cognitive strategies, rather than learned or innate rules," she said.
I think it's funny article I can't imagine a situation that a bird flew into your window, stole nuts and flew away If it happen, my world will never be the same
Another article about birds They are so clever=)I like animals but I haven't ever read such interesting infarmation about jay=)I would like to know mare about these birds:)
Jay bird is unusual for me) I did not interested in this kind of birds some month ago. But after reading the book "The Hunger Games" where I read interesting story about Jay-peresmeshnitse,I wanted to learn more about this bird) Thanks for the article!
I can't imagine a situation that a bird flew into your window, stole nuts and flew away 
If it happen, my world will never be the same 
