(Taxonomy expanded. Referenced) |
(id for different subspecies, range internationalised, diet, pictures of two more subspecies) |
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[[Image:Common_Magpie.jpg|thumb|550px|right|Photo by {{user|henkdikkers|henkdikkers}}]] | [[Image:Common_Magpie.jpg|thumb|550px|right|Photo by {{user|henkdikkers|henkdikkers}}]] | ||
| + | '''Alternative Name: Common Magpie; Pied Magpie''' | ||
;[[: Category:Pica|Pica]] pica | ;[[: Category:Pica|Pica]] pica | ||
| + | '''Includes: Arabian Magpie; Oriental Magpie; Black-rumped Magpie; Kamchatka Magpie; Maghreb Magpie''' | ||
==Identification== | ==Identification== | ||
| − | Black head, neck, breast and back | + | [[Image:Magpie IMG 3684.jpg|thumb|350px|right|Photo by {{user|teodor|teodor}}]] |
| − | Wings and tail, whilst looking black in certain lights, are actually bluey-green and purple | + | * Black head, neck, breast and back |
| − | Very long tail, diamond-shaped when spread out. | + | * Prominent white side patches and belly |
| + | * Wings and tail, whilst looking black in certain lights, are actually bluey-green and purple | ||
| + | * Very long tail, diamond-shaped when spread out | ||
| + | * ''bottanensis'' has a black rump, a short tail, a stout bill and only little gloss in plumage | ||
| + | * ''serica'' is dark and small and has a short tail | ||
| + | * ''mauritanica'' has a large blue patch of bare skin behind the eye | ||
| + | * ''asirensis'' is darker, has a black rump, less white in plumage and a short tail | ||
| + | Sexes are similar. Juveniles are duller than adults. | ||
==Distribution== | ==Distribution== | ||
| − | [[Europe]] | + | Found in most of [[Europe]], the [[Middle East]], northern [[Africa]] ([[Morocco]], [[Algeria]], [[Tunisia]]), [[Saudi Arabia]] (Asir massif), central [[Asia]] to [[China]], [[Korea]], [[Japan]] and east [[Siberia]].<br /> |
| − | [[Image: | + | Widespread and common in most of its range. |
| + | [[Image:12104magpie.jpg|thumb|350px|right|subspecies ''bactriana''<br />Photo by {{user|Rajiv+Lather|Rajiv Lather}}<br />Leh, [[India]], October 2006]] | ||
==Taxonomy== | ==Taxonomy== | ||
This species was formerly considered conspecific with [[Black-billed Magpie]] ''P. hudsonia.'' | This species was formerly considered conspecific with [[Black-billed Magpie]] ''P. hudsonia.'' | ||
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*''P. p. melanotos'': | *''P. p. melanotos'': | ||
:*[[Iberia|Iberian Peninsula]] | :*[[Iberia|Iberian Peninsula]] | ||
| − | *''P. p. mauretanica'': | + | *''P. p. mauretanica'' (Maghreb Magpie): |
:*North-eastern [[Mauritania]] to [[Morocco]], [[Algeria]] and [[Tunisia]] | :*North-eastern [[Mauritania]] to [[Morocco]], [[Algeria]] and [[Tunisia]] | ||
| − | *''P. p. asirensis'': | + | *''P. p. asirensis'' (Arabian Magpie): |
:*Assir Mountains (south-western [[Arabia]]) | :*Assir Mountains (south-western [[Arabia]]) | ||
| + | [[Image:19145AGuy 00072.JPG|thumb|350px|right|Oriental Magpie, ''P. p. serica''<br />Photo by {{user|anonymous_guy|anonymous_guy}}<br />Lamma Island, [[Hong Kong]]]] | ||
*''P. p. bactriana'': | *''P. p. bactriana'': | ||
:*Central [[Russia]] to northern [[India]] and western [[Tibet]] | :*Central [[Russia]] to northern [[India]] and western [[Tibet]] | ||
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*''P. p. leucoptera'': | *''P. p. leucoptera'': | ||
:*Southern Transbaicalia to eastern [[Mongolia]] and Altai Mountains | :*Southern Transbaicalia to eastern [[Mongolia]] and Altai Mountains | ||
| − | *''P. p. camtschatica'': | + | *''P. p. camtschatica'' (Kamchatka Magpie): |
:*Northern shores of Sea of Okhotsk to Kamchatka Peninsula | :*Northern shores of Sea of Okhotsk to Kamchatka Peninsula | ||
| − | *''P. p. bottanensis'': | + | *''P. p. bottanensis'' (Black-rumped or Tibetian Magpie): |
:*Eastern [[Himalayas]] to south-eastern [[Tibet]] and western [[China]] (Qinghai and Xinjiang) | :*Eastern [[Himalayas]] to south-eastern [[Tibet]] and western [[China]] (Qinghai and Xinjiang) | ||
| − | *''P. p. | + | *''P. p. serica'' (Oriental Magpie): |
:*Southern [[China]] to [[Myanmar]], [[Indochina]], Hainan and [[Taiwan]] | :*Southern [[China]] to [[Myanmar]], [[Indochina]], Hainan and [[Taiwan]] | ||
| − | [http://www.birdforum.net/showthread.php?t=69349&highlight=magpie This] is a thread discussing possible splits from this group of subspecies, with '' | + | [http://www.birdforum.net/showthread.php?t=69349&highlight=magpie This] is a thread discussing possible splits from this group of subspecies, with ''serica'' and ''bottanensis'' the strongest contenders(?). |
==Habitat== | ==Habitat== | ||
Farmland and open country. Also town gardens and parks. | Farmland and open country. Also town gardens and parks. | ||
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====Flight==== | ====Flight==== | ||
Quick, with deep, fast, even wing beats. Short glides. | Quick, with deep, fast, even wing beats. Short glides. | ||
| + | ====Diet==== | ||
| + | Omnivorous. Feeds mainly on invertebrates, small mammals, lizards, frogs, bird eggs, nestlings and carrion. | ||
====Breeding==== | ====Breeding==== | ||
Builds a domed nest in tall trees, or hedgerows which often contains shiny objects | Builds a domed nest in tall trees, or hedgerows which often contains shiny objects | ||
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- ''[[Media:Pica pica (song).mp3|Listen in an external program]]'' | - ''[[Media:Pica pica (song).mp3|Listen in an external program]]'' | ||
==References== | ==References== | ||
| − | #{{Ref- | + | #{{Ref-Clements6thDec09}}#Birdwatchers Pocket Guide ISBN 1-85732-804-3 |
#Collins Pocket Guide to British Birds 1966 | #Collins Pocket Guide to British Birds 1966 | ||
| − | #Collins Field Guid 5th Edition | + | #Collins Field Guid 5th Edition#{{Ref-HBWVol14}} |
| + | {{ref}} | ||
==External Links== | ==External Links== | ||
{{GSearch|pica_pica}} | {{GSearch|pica_pica}} | ||
Revision as of 17:22, 7 April 2010
Photo by henkdikkers
Alternative Name: Common Magpie; Pied Magpie
- Pica pica
Includes: Arabian Magpie; Oriental Magpie; Black-rumped Magpie; Kamchatka Magpie; Maghreb Magpie
Identification
Photo by teodor
- Black head, neck, breast and back
- Prominent white side patches and belly
- Wings and tail, whilst looking black in certain lights, are actually bluey-green and purple
- Very long tail, diamond-shaped when spread out
- bottanensis has a black rump, a short tail, a stout bill and only little gloss in plumage
- serica is dark and small and has a short tail
- mauritanica has a large blue patch of bare skin behind the eye
- asirensis is darker, has a black rump, less white in plumage and a short tail
Sexes are similar. Juveniles are duller than adults.
Distribution
Found in most of Europe, the Middle East, northern Africa (Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia), Saudi Arabia (Asir massif), central Asia to China, Korea, Japan and east Siberia.
Widespread and common in most of its range.
Taxonomy
This species was formerly considered conspecific with Black-billed Magpie P. hudsonia.
Subspecies[1]
About 12 subspecies are recognized:
- P. p. pica:
- British Isles, southern Scandinavia, central and eastern Europe to Asia Minor
- P. p. fennorum:
- Northern Scandinavia and western Russia
- P. p. galliae:
- P. p. melanotos:
- P. p. mauretanica (Maghreb Magpie):
- North-eastern Mauritania to Morocco, Algeria and Tunisia
- P. p. asirensis (Arabian Magpie):
- Assir Mountains (south-western Arabia)
- P. p. bactriana:
- P. p. hemileucoptera:
- Western and southern Siberia to Outer Mongolia
- P. p. leucoptera:
- Southern Transbaicalia to eastern Mongolia and Altai Mountains
- P. p. camtschatica (Kamchatka Magpie):
- Northern shores of Sea of Okhotsk to Kamchatka Peninsula
- P. p. bottanensis (Black-rumped or Tibetian Magpie):
- P. p. serica (Oriental Magpie):
This is a thread discussing possible splits from this group of subspecies, with serica and bottanensis the strongest contenders(?).
Habitat
Farmland and open country. Also town gardens and parks.
Behaviour
Walks and will hop sideways.
Flight
Quick, with deep, fast, even wing beats. Short glides.
Diet
Omnivorous. Feeds mainly on invertebrates, small mammals, lizards, frogs, bird eggs, nestlings and carrion.
Breeding
Builds a domed nest in tall trees, or hedgerows which often contains shiny objects
Vocalisation
Harsh "chack, chack, chack".
- <flashmp3>Pica pica (song).mp3</flashmp3>
- Listen in an external program
References
- Clements, JF. 2009. The Clements Checklist of Birds of the World. 6th ed., with updates to December 2009. Ithaca: Cornell Univ. Press. ISBN 978-0801445019.
- Birdwatchers Pocket Guide ISBN 1-85732-804-3
- Collins Pocket Guide to British Birds 1966
- Collins Field Guid 5th Edition#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
Recommended Citation
- BirdForum Opus contributors. (2024) Eurasian Magpie. In: BirdForum, the forum for wild birds and birding. Retrieved 3 May 2024 from https://www.birdforum.net/opus/Eurasian_Magpie
External Links
This link searches for "Common Magpie"
