Red-billed blue magpie facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Red-billed blue magpie |
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| Near Shek Kwu Lung, Hong Kong | |
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Urocissa
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| Species: |
erythroryncha
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The red-billed blue magpie (Urocissa erythroryncha) is a beautiful bird that belongs to the crow family, called Corvidae. It is about the same size as a regular Eurasian magpie. However, it has a much longer tail. In fact, its tail is one of the longest of any bird in its family!
These birds are about 65 to 68 centimeters (25.5 to 27 inches) long. They weigh between 196 and 232 grams (6.9 to 8.2 ounces).
About Its Name
Scientists give every animal a special two-part name. This helps everyone around the world know exactly which animal they are talking about. The red-billed blue magpie was first described by a French scientist named Georges-Louis Leclerc, Comte de Buffon in 1775.
Later, in 1783, a Dutch naturalist named Pieter Boddaert gave it its first scientific name: Corvus erythrorynchus. Today, the red-billed blue magpie is part of a group of five species in the genus Urocissa. This group was named by a German scientist, Jean Cabanis, in 1850.
The name Urocissa comes from Ancient Greek words. Oura means "tail" and kissa means "magpie." So, it means "tail magpie." The second part of its name, erythroryncha, also comes from Ancient Greek. Eruthros means "red" and rhunkhos means "bill." This perfectly describes its bright red beak!
There are five different types, or subspecies, of the red-billed blue magpie:
- U. e. occipitalis lives from northwest India to eastern Nepal.
- U. e. magnirostris is found from northeast India to southern Indochina.
- U. e. alticola lives in northern Myanmar and south-central China.
- U. e. brevivexilla is found in northeast China.
- U. e. erythroryncha lives in central, eastern, and southeastern China, and northern Indochina.
What It Looks Like
The red-billed blue magpie has a black head, neck, and chest. It has cool bluish spots on the top of its head. Its shoulders and rump (the lower back) are a duller violet-blue color. The feathers on its belly are a creamy grey color.
Its long tail is a brighter violet-blue, and it has a wide white tip. The main feathers on its wings are also violet-blue. One of the most striking features is its bright orange-red bill. Its legs, feet, and the ring around each eye are also this same bright red color. Sometimes, this red color can look almost yellow in some birds, depending on where they live.
Where It Lives and What It Does
The red-billed blue magpie lives across a large area. You can find it in the northern parts of the Indian subcontinent. It also lives further east, stretching into countries like Myanmar, Thailand, Cambodia, Laos, and Vietnam. It is also found throughout central and eastern China, reaching up to southwest Manchuria.
These birds prefer to live in evergreen forests and bushy areas. They especially like hilly or mountainous places. They have even learned to live in cities! You can see them in big Chinese cities like Beijing and Hong Kong.
Red-billed blue magpies build their nests in trees and large bushes. Their nests are usually not very deep. A female magpie typically lays three to five eggs.
These birds look for food both in trees and on the ground. They eat many different things. This includes small bugs, other tiny animals, fruits, and some seeds. They are also known to take eggs and baby birds from other nests.
Red-billed blue magpies are very good at copying sounds. Their calls are quite varied. However, their most common calls are a harsh rattling sound and a high-pitched whistle that sounds a bit like a flute.
