- Cyanopica cyanus
Identification
31-35cm. Tail 16-20cm. Glossy black top to the head, white throat, light grey-fawn underparts and back, azure blue wings and tail.
Distribution
Two widely separated populations with one in the Iberian Peninsula (Portugal and Spain) and the second from central Asia to eastern China and Japan.
Taxonomy
Nine-ten subspecies are recognized, cooki in Iberia and the rest in Asia. Some authorities believe the two groups should be different species, with C. cooki becoming Iberian Magpie and the rest retaining the name of Azure-winged Magpie.
In the current form, Azure-winged Magpie is the only member of its genus.
Habitat
Coniferous, mainly pine, and broadleaf forest, including parks and gardens in the eastern populations.
Behaviour
The diet includes acorns and pine nuts, invertebrates and larvae, soft fruits and berries.
They nest in loose, open colonies with a single nest in each tree. 6–8 eggs are laid and are incubated for 15 days.
