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Difference between revisions of "Iberian Magpie" - BirdForum Opus

(weights and measures done)
(Id extended, moved discription conparison from taxonomy to similar species)
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'''Alternative Name: Iberian Azure-winged Magpie, Azure-winged magpie, Cook’s Azure-winged Magpie, Spanish Azure-winged Magpie'''
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'''Alternative Name: Iberian Azure-winged Magpie, Cook’s Azure-winged Magpie, Spanish Azure-winged Magpie'''
 
[[Image:Iberian_azure-winged-magpie_by_john-henry.jpg|thumb|550px|right|Photography by {{user|john-henry|john-henry}}<br />Southern [[Spain]]]]
 
[[Image:Iberian_azure-winged-magpie_by_john-henry.jpg|thumb|550px|right|Photography by {{user|john-henry|john-henry}}<br />Southern [[Spain]]]]
 
;[[: Category:Cyanopica|Cyanopica]] cooki
 
;[[: Category:Cyanopica|Cyanopica]] cooki
 +
 
==Identification==
 
==Identification==
Length 34-36 cm, 13.4-14.2 inches, of which the tail 16-20 cm; weight 65-76 g, 2.3-2.7 oz<br >
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Length 34-36 cm, 13.4-14.2 inches, tail length 19-19.7 cm, 7.5-7.8 inches. Weight 65-76 g, 2.3-2.7 oz<br >
*Glossy black cap
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*White throat
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====Adults====
*Brownish-grey back and rump
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*Head proportionally large
 +
*Glossy black cap from [[Topography Artwork Heads|crown]] to below eye including  [[Topography Artwork Heads|ear-coverts]] and [[Topography Artwork Heads|nape]]
 +
*[[Dictionary_G-L#I|Iridescent]] purple on crown and nape.
 +
*Nape feathers slightly ruffled
 +
*White throat and [[Topography Artwork Heads|malar]] area
 +
*Upperparts brownish-grey with pinkish hue
 +
*[[Topography Artwork General Anatomy|Uppertail-coverts]] have blue wash
 
*Light buffish underparts
 
*Light buffish underparts
*Azure blue wings and tail
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*Wings proportionally short and wide
Sexes similar. Juveniles have a brownish-black hood.
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*Upper wing azure blue with [[Dictionary P-S#R|remiges]] with black inner web, azure blue with white tip outer web of primaries increasingly to outer primary
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*Long, broad and strongly graduated  azure blue tail with horn coloured shafts
 +
*Underparts pinkish-grey darkest on flanks and side of breast fading to near white on center of belly
 +
*Iris dark brown to black
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*Beak black, fairly short and pointed
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*[[Topography#Beaks|Bristles]] short and thick
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*Legs black, fairly short and weak
 +
 
 +
====Juveniles====
 +
*Juvenileshave a brownish-black hood.
  
 +
====Similar species====
 +
*Differs from [[Azure-winged Magpie]] being smaller, with shorter beak, brighter blue wings and tail, lacks white tips on tail. Sexes similar. Juvenile is similar to adult, but hood brownish-black, crown feathers with pale edges, wing-coverts with sandy edges, greater coverts tipped white forming a narrow bar, tail tip not as sharp and with narrow buff edges, adultlike by end of first autumn.
 
==Distribution==
 
==Distribution==
 
Endemic to the Iberian Peninsula ([[Portugal]] and [[Spain]]).
 
Endemic to the Iberian Peninsula ([[Portugal]] and [[Spain]]).
 
==Taxonomy==
 
==Taxonomy==
 
This is a [[Dictionary_M-O#M|monotypic]] species.<br />
 
This is a [[Dictionary_M-O#M|monotypic]] species.<br />
It was formerly considered conspecific with [[Azure-winged Magpie]] from [[Asia]], differing from it in having an all-blue tail (no white tip) and slightly darker body plumage.
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It was formerly considered conspecific with [[Azure-winged Magpie]] from [[Asia]]
  
 
==Habitat==
 
==Habitat==

Revision as of 11:38, 17 November 2016

Alternative Name: Iberian Azure-winged Magpie, Cook’s Azure-winged Magpie, Spanish Azure-winged Magpie

Photography by john-henry
Southern Spain
Cyanopica cooki

Identification

Length 34-36 cm, 13.4-14.2 inches, tail length 19-19.7 cm, 7.5-7.8 inches. Weight 65-76 g, 2.3-2.7 oz

Adults

  • Head proportionally large
  • Glossy black cap from crown to below eye including ear-coverts and nape
  • Iridescent purple on crown and nape.
  • Nape feathers slightly ruffled
  • White throat and malar area
  • Upperparts brownish-grey with pinkish hue
  • Uppertail-coverts have blue wash
  • Light buffish underparts
  • Wings proportionally short and wide
  • Upper wing azure blue with remiges with black inner web, azure blue with white tip outer web of primaries increasingly to outer primary
  • Long, broad and strongly graduated azure blue tail with horn coloured shafts
  • Underparts pinkish-grey darkest on flanks and side of breast fading to near white on center of belly
  • Iris dark brown to black
  • Beak black, fairly short and pointed
  • Bristles short and thick
  • Legs black, fairly short and weak

Juveniles

  • Juvenileshave a brownish-black hood.

Similar species

  • Differs from Azure-winged Magpie being smaller, with shorter beak, brighter blue wings and tail, lacks white tips on tail. Sexes similar. Juvenile is similar to adult, but hood brownish-black, crown feathers with pale edges, wing-coverts with sandy edges, greater coverts tipped white forming a narrow bar, tail tip not as sharp and with narrow buff edges, adultlike by end of first autumn.

Distribution

Endemic to the Iberian Peninsula (Portugal and Spain).

Taxonomy

This is a monotypic species.
It was formerly considered conspecific with Azure-winged Magpie from Asia

Habitat

Coniferous, mainly Stone Pine Pinus pinea, and oak Quercus forest.

Behaviour

Gregarious, forming noisy groups out of the breeding season.

Diet

The diet includes acorns and pine 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 Quercus ilex. Incubation takes around 15 days for the 6–8 eggs.
They can be used as host species by Great Spotted Cuckoo.

References

  1. 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/
  2. Avibase
  3. Wikipedia
  4. Collins Field Guide 5th Edition
  5. Collins Bird Guide ISBN 0 00 219728 6

External Links


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