- Cissa thalassina
Identification
31 - 33cm. A striking Magpie:
- Light green plumage, yellower on crown and underparts
- Prominent black band from base of bill over eye to nape
- Reddish-chestnut wing
- Prominent red bill
- Relatively short tail, outher tail feathers with whitish tip
- Dark brown iris with crimson orbital ring
- Bright-red to orange-red legs
- jefferyi darker than nominate, iris whitish-blue and orbital ring light blue
Sexes similar. Juveniles have duller, browner bills and legs. The colours of this species may bleach out in the sun and they may appear dull light blue instead of green.
Similar species
Paler than similar Bornean Green Magpie.
Distribution
Endemic to Java (Indonesia).
Not uncommon.
Taxonomy
This is a monotypic species.
It was formerly considered conspecific with Bornean Green Magpie and both have been considered conspecific with Indochinese Green Magpie.
Habitat
Montane forests in thick vegetation in the mid and upper storeys of forests. Occurs at 1000 - 1200m.
Behaviour
Diet poorly known. Feeds obviously on snails, insects and their larvae and maybe small frogs.
Usually foraging in dense undergrowth, singly, in pairs or small family groups.
The nest is cup-shaped and made of twigs.
A resident species.
References
- 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/
- 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
- Birdforum thread discussing the taxonomy of this species
Recommended Citation
- BirdForum Opus contributors. (2025) Javan Green Magpie. In: BirdForum, the forum for wild birds and birding. Retrieved 1 May 2025 from https://www.birdforum.net/opus/Javan_Green_Magpie
