Maghreb Magpie

Pica mauritanica

The magpie of North Africa; very similar to Eurasian Magpie and closely related. Slightly shorter-winged and longer-tailed than Eurasian Magpie with blue bare skin around the eye. Also lacks gloss on the tail. Found in various wooded habitats including urban and suburban gardens, woodlands, cultivated areas, and forests. Call is a rapid chatter and is slightly higher-pitched than that of Eurasian Magpie.

Taxonomy

Scientific name
Pica mauritanica
Authority
Malherbe, 1845
Order
Passeriformes
Family
Corvidae
Genus
Pica

Range and habitat

Migration
Resident species

Conservation

Population trend
declining

Photos

Distribution

Bird Calls

Other Birds

Fasciated Wren

Fasciated Wren

Campylorhynchus fasciatus

Large, noisy wren of dry and semi-humid areas; ranges from western Ecuador south to central Peru. Upperparts, sides, and tail are boldly barred with gray and white, and breast is spotted with gray. Similar to Band-backed Wren, but lacks chestnut on underparts, has paler breast spots, and prefers more arid habitats. Pairs or small groups forage conspicuously in bushes and trees, giving a variety of harsh, raspy calls.

Rufous-chested Tanager

Rufous-chested Tanager

Thlypopsis ornata

Small warblerlike tanager. Note orange head, breast, and flanks, gray-brown back, and white belly. Sexes similar. Found in montane woodland, edges, and shrubby areas in the Andes from Colombia to Peru from around 1,800–3,200 m. Usually seen in pairs, which forage in the middle levels, often with mixed-species flocks. Compare with Brown-flanked Tanager in Peru, which has duller brown flanks that contrast with orange head and breast.

Sumatran Green-Pigeon

Sumatran Green-Pigeon

Treron oxyurus

Relatively plain and unmarked green-pigeon with a long pointed tail. Males have a faint orange blush on the chest, though this can be hard to notice. Note blue-green bill and “goggles” in both sexes. Completely unmarked dark olive-green wings separate this species from other green-pigeons within its range; Wedge-tailed Green-Pigeon can be similar, but note that species’ much more thickset build and shorter tail. Endemic to the hill forests of Sumatra and western Java. Like other green-pigeons, gathers in fruiting trees. Gives rising and falling series of high-pitched coos, often with a hiccuping or sobbing quality.

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