Blue Magpie
The yellow-billed blue magpie nominate subspecies U. f. flavirostris is distributed in east Nepal, Bhutan, northeast India, north Myanmar and China. The subspecies U. f. schaeferi occurs in west Myanmar.
The yellow-billed blue magpie subspecies U. f. cucullata occurs in Pakistan, northwest India and west Nepal. The subspecies U. f. robini is distributed in extreme north Vietnam.
The Important Bird and Biodiversity Areas (IBA) of these yellow-billed blue magpie species in Nepal are, Tamur valley, Rara National Park, Mai Valley, Phulchoki Mountain forests, Sagarmatha National Park, Langtang National Park, Khaptad National Park and Annapurna and Kanchenjunga Conservation Areas.
Ecosystem and habitat
The yellow-billed blue magpie species have moderate forest dependence. They normally occur in altitudes from 1600 to 2700 meters. The artificial ecosystems and habitats of these species include agricultural lands, plantations and heavily degraded tropical and subtropical forests.
The natural ecosystems and habitats of these yellow-billed blue magpie species include tropical and subtropical moist lowland forests, foothill forests, temperate forests and moist montane forests.
Diet and feeding behavior
The diet of this yellow-billed blue magpie species consists mainly of invertebrates. Insects, small mammals, eggs and hatchlings of birds, wild fruits and berries are their primary food.
These magpies are mostly arboreal and sometimes they feed on the ground by adopting a hopping gait, with the tail held high.
Reproduction and breeding habits
The breeding season of these yellow-billed blue magpie species is from April to July in most of their breeding range. These species are monogamous and territorial.
The nesting sites include fork of tree branches. The magpie nest is a cup of twigs and sticks, lined with grass, rootlets and plant fiber. The clutch contains 3-4 pale colored eggs, with small specks, blotches and streaks.
Migration and movement patterns
These yellow-billed blue magpie species are non-migratory resident birds. The populations in higher altitudes descend to lower levels in winter.
Post breeding, the juvenile magpies may disperse and establish in new locations within the range. Within their range they may make local movements for feeding and breeding.
Yellow-billed blue magpie - Quick Facts
Scientific name: Urocissa flavirostris
Species author: (Blyth, 1846)
Synonyms/Protonym: Psilorhinus flavirostris Blyth, 1846
Family: Corvidae › Passeriformes › Aves › Chordata › Animalia
Other names: Yellow-billed Blue Magpie, gold-billed magpie
Distribution: Pakistan, India, Nepal, Bhutan, Myanmar, Vietnam, China
Diet and feeding habits: invertebrates, small vertebrates, fruits, berries
IUCN status listing: Least Concern (LC)
Conservation and survival
The global population size of the yellow-billed blue magpie (Urocissa flavirostris) has not been quantified. The overall population trend of the species is considered to be stable.
In most of its range, this magpie species is reported to be fairly common or locally common (Madge and Burn 1993). The generation length is 6.7 years. Its distribution size is about 1,730,000 sq.km.
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