Aloktewari (talk | contribs) (Image legend improved) |
(Links. References updated) |
||
| Line 8: | Line 8: | ||
* Dull blue shoulders and rump | * Dull blue shoulders and rump | ||
* Grey-cream underparts (white in some subspecies) | * Grey-cream underparts (white in some subspecies) | ||
| − | * White tipped brighter blue tail and primaries | + | * White tipped brighter blue tail and [[Topography#Wings|primaries]] |
* Bright orange-red bill, legs, feet and eye ring | * Bright orange-red bill, legs, feet and eye ring | ||
Sexes similar. Juveniles are duller than adults. | Sexes similar. Juveniles are duller than adults. | ||
| Line 14: | Line 14: | ||
[[Gold-billed Magpie]] is similar, but Blue Magpie is bluer and whiter in appearance, has a red bill and extensive white speckles and spangling over most of crown and nape. | [[Gold-billed Magpie]] is similar, but Blue Magpie is bluer and whiter in appearance, has a red bill and extensive white speckles and spangling over most of crown and nape. | ||
==Distribution== | ==Distribution== | ||
| + | [[Image:r-b_blue_magpie.JPG|thumb|350px|right|Subspecies ''U. e. occipitalis''<br />Photo by {{user|aloktewari|Alok Tewari}} <br />Almora, [[Himalayas]], Alt.5200 ft., [[India]], Oct.-2016]] | ||
Found in the [[Himalayas]] from northwest [[India]] to [[Nepal]], [[Bhutan]] and east to [[Burma]], [[Thailand]], [[Cambodia]], [[Laos]] and [[Vietnam]]. Also in south and central [[China]] up north to Bejing and Inner Mongolia.<br /> | Found in the [[Himalayas]] from northwest [[India]] to [[Nepal]], [[Bhutan]] and east to [[Burma]], [[Thailand]], [[Cambodia]], [[Laos]] and [[Vietnam]]. Also in south and central [[China]] up north to Bejing and Inner Mongolia.<br /> | ||
Widespread and locally common. | Widespread and locally common. | ||
==Taxonomy== | ==Taxonomy== | ||
| − | |||
====Subspecies==== | ====Subspecies==== | ||
| − | There are 5 subspecies | + | There are 5 subspecies<sup>[[#References|[1]]]</sup>: |
* ''U. e. brevivexilla'' in south-western Manchuria and northern [[China]] | * ''U. e. brevivexilla'' in south-western Manchuria and northern [[China]] | ||
* ''U. e. erythroryncha'' from central China to southern Yunnan, northern [[Laos]] and northern [[Vietnam]] | * ''U. e. erythroryncha'' from central China to southern Yunnan, northern [[Laos]] and northern [[Vietnam]] | ||
| Line 32: | Line 32: | ||
Mostly seen in small family groups. Generally a rather shy bird. | Mostly seen in small family groups. Generally a rather shy bird. | ||
====Breeding==== | ====Breeding==== | ||
| − | Breeding season April to June in [[India]] and [[China]]. | + | Breeding season April to June in [[India]] and [[China]]. They build a shallow nest in trees or shrubs and 3-5 eggs are laid. |
====Movements==== | ====Movements==== | ||
| − | A resident species with altitudinal movements in the Himalayas. | + | A resident species with altitudinal movements in the [[Himalayas]]. |
==References== | ==References== | ||
| − | #{{Ref- | + | #{{Ref-Clements6thAug17}}#{{Ref-HBWVol14}} |
{{ref}} | {{ref}} | ||
==External Links== | ==External Links== | ||
Revision as of 23:37, 17 October 2017
Alternative names: Blue Magpie; Red-billed Magpie
- Urocissa erythroryncha
Identification
53 - 64cm (20¾-25 in). A highly distinctive blue magpie with a very long tail:
- Black head, neck and breast
- Blue spotting on crown
- Dull blue shoulders and rump
- Grey-cream underparts (white in some subspecies)
- White tipped brighter blue tail and primaries
- Bright orange-red bill, legs, feet and eye ring
Sexes similar. Juveniles are duller than adults.
Similar species
Gold-billed Magpie is similar, but Blue Magpie is bluer and whiter in appearance, has a red bill and extensive white speckles and spangling over most of crown and nape.
Distribution
Found in the Himalayas from northwest India to Nepal, Bhutan and east to Burma, Thailand, Cambodia, Laos and Vietnam. Also in south and central China up north to Bejing and Inner Mongolia.
Widespread and locally common.
Taxonomy
Subspecies
There are 5 subspecies[1]:
- U. e. brevivexilla in south-western Manchuria and northern China
- U. e. erythroryncha from central China to southern Yunnan, northern Laos and northern Vietnam
- U. e. alticola in south-western China (northern Yunnan) and north-eastern Myanmar
- U. e. occipitalis in the Himalayas (Punjab to Sikkim)
- U. e. magnirostris from the Hills of Assam (India) to Indochina
Habitat
Evergreen forest and scrub, hilly or mountainous country. Recorded from sea-level up to 2200m. Where ranges meet with Gold-billed Magpie replaced by the latter in higher elevations.
Behaviour
Diet
The diet includes invertebrates, small animals, fruit and seeds. It takes eggs and chicks from nests.
Mostly seen in small family groups. Generally a rather shy bird.
Breeding
Breeding season April to June in India and China. They build a shallow nest in trees or shrubs and 3-5 eggs are laid.
Movements
A resident species with altitudinal movements in the Himalayas.
References
- Clements, J. F., T. S. Schulenberg, M. J. Iliff, D. Roberson, T. A. Fredericks, B. L. Sullivan, and C. L. Wood. 2017. The eBird/Clements checklist of birds of the world: v2017, with updates to August 2017. 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
Recommended Citation
- BirdForum Opus contributors. (2024) Red-billed Blue Magpie. In: BirdForum, the forum for wild birds and birding. Retrieved 23 April 2024 from https://www.birdforum.net/opus/Red-billed_Blue_Magpie
External Links
