- Cyanopica cyanus
Cyanopica cyana
Identification
Length 31-35 cm, of which the tail 16-20 cm; weight 76-118 g
- Glossy black cap
- White throat
- Brownish-grey back and rump
- Light buffish underparts
- Azure blue wings and tail
- White tip to tail
Sexes similar. Juveniles have a brownish-black hood.
Distribution
From central Asia to eastern China and Japan.
Taxonomy
Closely related to the Iberian Magpie, which was formerly included in this species, but differs in having an all-blue tail (no white tip) and slightly darker body plumage.
Subspecies
Eight subspecies are accepted here,[1] though C. c. pallescens is considered a synonym of C. c. cyanus by some authors:[2]
- C. c. cyanus: East-central Asia
- C. c. pallescens: Middle and lower Amur River region
- C. c. koreensis: Korea
- C. c. stegmanni: Manchuria
- C. c. swinhoei: Eastern China (Liaoning to Fujian and Sichuan)
- C. c. interposita: Northern China (Shaanxi)
- C. c. kansuensis: Western China (Gansu, Qinghai and north-western Sichuan)
- C. c. japonica: Japan (Hondo and Kyushu)
Habitat
Open mixed forest, scrub, orchards, parks and gardens.
Behaviour
Gregarious, forming noisy groups out of the breeding season. Largely resident, but northernmost populations more dispersive; higher altitude birds in Japan are also known to move to lower altitudes in winter.[2]
Diet
The diet includes a wide variety of nuts, invertebrates and larvae, soft fruits and berries. When seeking invertebrates on the ground, they like to jump forward both feet together.
Breeding
They nest in loose, open colonies with a single nest in each tree, usually a holm oak. Incubation takes around 15 days for the 6–8 eggs.
References
- Clements, J. F., T. S. Schulenberg, M. J. Iliff, B.L. Sullivan, C. L. Wood, and D. Roberson. 2013. The eBird/Clements checklist of birds of the world: Version 6.8., with updates to August 2013. Downloaded from http://www.birds.cornell.edu/clementschecklist/download/
- Del Hoyo, J, A Elliott, and D Christie, eds. 2009. Handbook of the Birds of the World. Volume 14: Bush-shrikes to Old World Sparrows. Barcelona: Lynx Edicions. ISBN 978-8496553507
- Avibase
- Wikipedia
- Collins Field Guide 5th Edition
- Collins Bird Guide ISBN 0 00 219728 6