Black-throated magpie-jay facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Black-throated magpie-jay |
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| In the Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens, Florida | |
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Calocitta
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| Species: |
colliei
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The black-throated magpie-jay (Calocitta colliei) is a beautiful bird with a very long tail. It lives in northwestern Mexico. This bird is part of the magpie-jay family.
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Meet the Black-throated Magpie-Jay
What's in a Name?
The black-throated magpie-jay got its official name in 1829. An Irish zoologist named Nicholas Aylward Vigors described it. He named it after Alexander Collie, a surgeon who helped collect the bird. Its scientific name is Calocitta colliei. It is one of two species in the Calocitta group. This bird is unique, meaning there are no different types or subspecies of it.
What Does It Look Like?
This bird is quite large, growing from 58.5 to 76.5 cm (23.0 to 30.1 in) long. More than half of its length is its amazing tail! It weighs about 225–251 g (7.9–8.9 oz). Only a few other birds, like the black-billed magpie, have such long tails.
Its top feathers are a lovely blue color. The tips of its tail feathers are white. Its belly and chest are also white. The bird's beak, legs, and head are black. It also has a cool black crest on its head. Look closely, and you'll see a light blue mark above its eyes. There's also a blue patch right under its eyes. Young birds have a white tip on their crest. Their under-eye patch is smaller and darker blue. Some birds in the south have white on their throat and chest instead of black.
The black-throated magpie-jay makes many different sounds. Its calls are loud and sometimes sound like a parrot.
Where Does It Live?
You can find these birds in pairs or small groups. They live in woodlands and open areas along the Pacific coast of Mexico. Their home stretches from southern Sonora down to Jalisco and northwestern Colima. This area covers about 160,000 km2 (62,000 sq mi).
Sometimes, these birds are seen in southern San Diego County, California. This is especially true in the Tijuana River Valley. These birds likely escaped from nearby Tijuana, Baja California. In Tijuana, there are not many rules about trading birds.
How Does It Behave?
Like most birds in the crow family, the black-throated magpie-jay eats many different things. It is an omnivore, meaning it eats both plants and animals.
Its nest is also typical of the crow family. It's a big cup made of sticks. The inside is lined with softer materials to keep the eggs safe. The female bird lays 3 to 7 eggs. These eggs are whitish with brown and gray spots.
Sometimes, the black-throated magpie-jay mates with the white-throated magpie-jay. This happens in Jalisco and Colima, where both types of birds live. When they mate, their offspring can look like a mix of both species.
