(id for different subspecies, range internationalised, diet, pictures of two more subspecies) |
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| Line 32: | Line 32: | ||
*''P. p. mauretanica'' (Maghreb Magpie): | *''P. p. mauretanica'' (Maghreb Magpie): | ||
:*North-eastern [[Mauritania]] to [[Morocco]], [[Algeria]] and [[Tunisia]] | :*North-eastern [[Mauritania]] to [[Morocco]], [[Algeria]] and [[Tunisia]] | ||
| + | [[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. asirensis'' (Arabian Magpie): | *''P. p. asirensis'' (Arabian Magpie): | ||
:*Assir Mountains (south-western [[Arabia]]) | :*Assir Mountains (south-western [[Arabia]]) | ||
| − | |||
*''P. p. bactriana'': | *''P. p. bactriana'': | ||
:*Central [[Russia]] to northern [[India]] and western [[Tibet]] | :*Central [[Russia]] to northern [[India]] and western [[Tibet]] | ||
*''P. p. hemileucoptera'': | *''P. p. hemileucoptera'': | ||
| − | :*Western and southern [[Siberia]] to [[ | + | :*Western and southern [[Siberia]] to Outer [[Mongolia]] |
*''P. p. leucoptera'': | *''P. p. leucoptera'': | ||
:*Southern Transbaicalia to eastern [[Mongolia]] and Altai Mountains | :*Southern Transbaicalia to eastern [[Mongolia]] and Altai Mountains | ||
| Line 61: | Line 61: | ||
====Vocalisation==== | ====Vocalisation==== | ||
Harsh "chack, chack, chack". | Harsh "chack, chack, chack". | ||
| − | + | <flashmp3>Pica pica (song).mp3</flashmp3><br /> | |
| − | + | ''[[Media:Pica pica (song).mp3|Listen in an external program]]'' | |
==References== | ==References== | ||
#{{Ref-Clements6thDec09}}#Birdwatchers Pocket Guide ISBN 1-85732-804-3 | #{{Ref-Clements6thDec09}}#Birdwatchers Pocket Guide ISBN 1-85732-804-3 | ||
Revision as of 17:23, 7 April 2010
Alternative Name: Common Magpie; Pied Magpie
- Pica pica
Includes: Arabian Magpie; Oriental Magpie; Black-rumped Magpie; Kamchatka Magpie; Maghreb Magpie
Identification
- 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:
- 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"
