Yellow-billed Blue-Magpie
Urocissa flavirostris
The southwestern counterpart of the Red-billed Blue-Magpie, this colorful long-tailed corvid also forages in noisy flocks. Similar in coloration to Red-billed, but Yellow-billed is paler blue overall, with a small white patch at the back of the crown instead of an extensive white stripe, and a bright yellow bill instead of a scarlet one. Primarily found in Himalayan hill forest, with disjunct populations in northwestern Myanmar and northern Vietnam.
Identification
Length 66 cm (26 in), including tail of about 46 cm (18 in). Sexes alike. Head, neck, and breast black, with a white patch on the nape; remainder of lower plumage white, faintly tinged with lilac; whole upper plumage purplish-blue, brighter on the wings and tail; flight-feathers tipped with white, along with white outermost wing feathers; tail long and graduated, with blue feathers tipped with white, except for the very long central pair which have a band of black in front of the white
Taxonomy
Genus: Urocissa; Family: Corvidae; Order: Passeriformes.
- Scientific name
- Urocissa flavirostris
- Authority
- (Blyth, 1846)
- Order
- Passeriformes
- Family
- Corvidae
- Genus
- Urocissa
Range and habitat
The yellow-billed blue magpie is found throughout the Himalayas from Hazara to the Brahmaputra. It is divided into two sub-species. Of these, U. f. cucullata is the more common and is found from the Western boundary of the range to Western Nepal, being common through most of the hill stations of the Western Himalayas, breeding in a zone from 1,500 to 3,000 m (4,900 to 9,800 ft). The eastern form is found from Eastern Nepal eastwards and differs in that the under parts have a darker lilac tinge; its zone is slightly higher than that of the Western form, and it seldom occurs as low as 1,830 m (6,000 ft). It is a resident species, but during the winter months it usually moves to lower elevations. From Simla eastwards, the closely related red-billed blue magpie (Urocissa erythroryncha) is often found in the same areas as the yellow-billed species; it is particularly common about Mussoorie, Tehri-Garhwal, -Kumaon, and in Nepal, and may be easily distinguished by its red beak and the greater extent of the white nape-patch.
- Migration
- Vertical migration
Behavior
Migration pattern: Vertical migration.
Conservation
Population trend: stable.
- Population trend
- stable
Photos
Distribution
Bird Calls
Other Birds
Iranian Ground-Jay
Podoces pleskei
Strange brownish corvid restricted to eastern Iran. Pinkish-buff overall, with a slightly decurved bill and black-and-white wing coverts. Also note black tail and black “badge” on chest. Inhabits flat sandy deserts with interspersed vegetation, where it forages on the ground in pairs or small flocks. Gives a series of high squeaky notes comparable to the sound of fingernails on a blackboard, typically in the early morning.
Pale-vented Pigeon
Patagioenas cayennensis
Large pigeon of marshy savannas, riversides, open areas with scattered trees, locally even in towns, such as Villahermosa, Mexico. Gray head contrasts with pinkish body, and whitish belly does not contrast strongly with plain grayish tail; compare darker Red-billed Pigeon, which often occurs in same areas but prefers drier and more forested habitats. Also note black bill of Pale-vented, and subtly distinctive song: after long introductory coo, repeated phrase is typically a 3-syllable "who’koo-koo", unlike 4-syllable "oo’koo-koo-koo" of Red-billed.
Mangrove Honeyeater
Gavicalis fasciogularis
Medium-sized honeyeater found in coastal habitats of eastern Australia. Back is brown-green, breast is gray, and underparts are pale. Distinguished from Varied Honeyeater by presence of clear barring on the throat and lack of yellow underparts and breast streaking. Usually found in or around mangroves, where it is typically quite conspicuous and vocal.
Start Your Bird Watching Journey
Identify a bird outdoors and keep the field guide close for your next observation.