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Difference between revisions of "Piapiac" - BirdForum Opus

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(Picture of juvenile. Imp sizes. Links. C/right. References updated)
 
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[[Image:Piapiac_obasanmi_gambia.jpg|thumb|550px|right|Photo &copy; by {{user|obasanmi|obasanmi}}<br /> The [[Gambia]], June 2007]]
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'''Alternative name: Black Magpie'''
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;[[: Category:Ptilostomus|Ptilostomus]] afer
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==Identification==
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[[Image:DSC 6244.JPG|thumb|400px|right|Juvenile<br />Photo &copy; by {{user|volker+sthamer|volker sthamer}}<br />Kidepo NP, [[Uganda]], January 2019]]
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35 - 42cm (13¾-16½ in). A distinctive African corvid:
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* Very long, graduated tail with ten stiff feathers, blackish-brown
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* Stout bill with strongly arched [[Topography#Beaks|culmen]]
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* Black plumage with bluish or purplish sheen
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* Violet-blue or purple iris with red-brown outer rim
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* Black legs
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Sexes similar. Juveniles have a pinkish bill and brown eyes.
  
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;Ptilostomus afer
 
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[[Image:Piapiac.jpg|thumb|550px|right|Photo by IanE]]
 
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==Identification==
 
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In size it is a little smaller and slimmer than the European Magpie (Pica pica) though the bill is relatively thicker. The overall colouring of the bird is black with the feathers quite silky in texture and having a purplish gloss in good light. The base of the tail tends to be more brown in colour than the rest of the body. The nasal plumes are somewhat upturned on top of the bill but fully cover the nostrils. The bill itself is black in the adult but partly reddish-pink towards the base in juvenile specimens. Legs and feet are black. Iris is variable but tends towards violet, purple or mauve with a bluish-purple outer ring.
 
 
==Distribution==
 
==Distribution==
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The range of the species is the tropical equatorial region of central Africa from Senegal on the west coast, eastwards in a broad band to Sudan and southern Ethiopia.  
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Central [[Africa]] from [[Senegal]] on the west coast, eastwards in a broad band to [[Sudan]] and southern [[Ethiopia]]. <br />
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Widespread and common in parts of its range.
 
==Taxonomy==
 
==Taxonomy==
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The Piapiac (Ptilostomus afer) is a member of the crow family, and is the only member of the genus Ptilostomus. According to recent findings, it is most closely related to the Central Asian ground jays (Ericson et al., 2005).
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This is a [[Dictionary_M-S#M|monotypic]] species<sup>[[#References|[1]]]</sup>..<br />
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Has been thought to belong to the [[:Category:Sturnidae|starlings]] but recent studies show that is most closely related to the Central Asian ground jays ([[:Category:Podoces|''Podoces'']]) and to [[Stresemann's Bush Crow]] (Ericson et al., J. Avian Biol 36: 222-234, 2005).
 
==Habitat==
 
==Habitat==
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Within this range, its favoured habitat is towards more open country of cultivated land with fields and pasture and small associated towns and villages.
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Savanna with trees and patches of woodland. Forages in cultivated land with fields and pasture and small associated towns and villages.
 
==Behaviour==
 
==Behaviour==
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Food is obtained in flocks of ten or more birds moving together on the ground including insects and other invertebrates but will take a degree of carrion, possibly attracted as much by the associated insects this attracts as much as the meat itself. Some fruit is also taken in trees with the oily fruit of the Oil Palm Elaeis guineensis a favourite. Able to run fast with some agility, it tends to hop at slower speed and will catch insects disturbed by the feet of cattle, sometimes hitching a ride on their backs and darting out to catch the prey.
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====Diet====
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Diet includes insects, invertebrates, carrion and fruit.<br />
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Nesting is quite often in a palm tree, though other types are used also. Strips of palm leaf and grass stems are cemented together with mud and lined with palm fibre to form a cup. Three to seven eggs are laid and are very pale blue or greenish-blue with a few brown blotches from March to April.
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Forages mainly on the ground, usually in small to rather big, noisy groups.
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====Breeding====
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The voice is usually described as a shrill squeaking often with the Jackdaw-like overtones. There is also a croaking alarm call given in anger where the head bobs.
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The breeding season depends on the local rains. They build their nests in trees, often a palm, and use palm leaves, grass stems, and mud to form a cup which is lined with palm fibre. 3-7 pale blue eggs are laid. Reports on cooperative breeding with up to five adults feeding three nestlings.  
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====Movements====
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Mainly a resident species but some wandering seems to occur.
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==References==
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#{{Ref-Clements6thAug18}}#{{Ref-HBWVol14}}
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{{Ref}}
 
==External Links==
 
==External Links==
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*[http://www.birdforum.net/pp_gallery/showgallery.php?mcats=all&what=allfields&si=Ptilostomus+afer+ View more images of Piapiac in the gallery]
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{{GSearch|Ptilostomus+afer}}
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[[Category:Birds]]
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[[Category:Birds]][[Category:Ptilostomus]]

Latest revision as of 22:53, 27 February 2019

Photo © by obasanmi
The Gambia, June 2007

Alternative name: Black Magpie

Ptilostomus afer

Identification

Juvenile
Photo © by volker sthamer
Kidepo NP, Uganda, January 2019

35 - 42cm (13¾-16½ in). A distinctive African corvid:

  • Very long, graduated tail with ten stiff feathers, blackish-brown
  • Stout bill with strongly arched culmen
  • Black plumage with bluish or purplish sheen
  • Violet-blue or purple iris with red-brown outer rim
  • Black legs

Sexes similar. Juveniles have a pinkish bill and brown eyes.

Distribution

Central Africa from Senegal on the west coast, eastwards in a broad band to Sudan and southern Ethiopia.
Widespread and common in parts of its range.

Taxonomy

This is a monotypic species[1]..
Has been thought to belong to the starlings but recent studies show that is most closely related to the Central Asian ground jays (Podoces) and to Stresemann's Bush Crow (Ericson et al., J. Avian Biol 36: 222-234, 2005).

Habitat

Savanna with trees and patches of woodland. Forages in cultivated land with fields and pasture and small associated towns and villages.

Behaviour

Diet

Diet includes insects, invertebrates, carrion and fruit.
Forages mainly on the ground, usually in small to rather big, noisy groups.

Breeding

The breeding season depends on the local rains. They build their nests in trees, often a palm, and use palm leaves, grass stems, and mud to form a cup which is lined with palm fibre. 3-7 pale blue eggs are laid. Reports on cooperative breeding with up to five adults feeding three nestlings.

Movements

Mainly a resident species but some wandering seems to occur.

References

  1. Clements, J. F., T. S. Schulenberg, M. J. Iliff, D. Roberson, T. A. Fredericks, B. L. Sullivan, and C. L. Wood. 2018. The eBird/Clements checklist of birds of the world: v2018. Downloaded from http://www.birds.cornell.edu/clementschecklist/download/
  2. 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

External Links

Retrieved from ‘https://www.birdforum.net/wiki/index.php?title=Piapiac&oldid=236286’
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