Passeriformes Corvidae Azure-Winged Magpie (Cyanopica cyanus)
[order] Passeriformes | [family] Corvidae | [latin] Cyanopica cyanus | [UK] Azure-Winged Magpie | [FR] Pie-bleue | [DE] Blauelster | [ES] Rabilargo | [IT] Gazza azzurra | [NL] Blauwe Ekster
Physical charateristics
About 75% size of Magpie. Small, elegant corvid with rather attenuated form ending in long tail shaped like Magpie but looking narrower in flight. Body dove-brown, with black cap, white throat, and mainly azure-blue wings and tail. Flight recalls Magpie; other behaviour more like Jay.
Unmistakable in good view but may suggest Magpie if seen only as silhouette, and even Great Spotted Cuckoo in brief glimpse. Flight recalls Magpie but looser, with far less erratic and staccato bursts of wing-beats; progress thus more sustained, even dashing at times. Gait a light, bouncy hop; also clambers and jumps. Flicks wings and tail in excitement. Secretive rather than shy in breeding season; bold and confident at other times, roving widely in noisy groups.
Unmistakable in good view but may suggest Magpie if seen only as silhouette, and even Great Spotted Cuckoo in brief glimpse. Flight recalls Magpie but looser, with far less erratic and staccato bursts of wing-beats; progress thus more sustained, even dashing at times. Gait a light, bouncy hop; also clambers and jumps. Flicks wings and tail in excitement. Secretive rather than shy in breeding season; bold and confident at other times, roving widely in noisy groups.
| wingspan min.: | 38 | cm | wingspan max.: | 40 | cm |
| size min.: | 34 | cm | size max.: | 35 | cm |
| incubation min.: | 15 | days | incubation max.: | 16 | days |
| fledging min.: | 14 | days | fledging max.: | 16 | days |
| broods: | 1 | eggs min.: | 5 | ||
| eggs max.: | 9 |
Distribution
Cyanopica cyanus is resident in Iberia, with Europe accounting for less than a quarter
of its disjunct global range (the rest-well separated-occurring in eastern Asia). Its
European breeding population is large (>260,000 pairs), and was stable between
1970-1990. Although the trend of the key Spanish population during 1990-2000
was unknown, the population in Portugal was stable, and there was no evidence to
suggest that the species’s status deteriorated overall.
of its disjunct global range (the rest-well separated-occurring in eastern Asia). Its
European breeding population is large (>260,000 pairs), and was stable between
1970-1990. Although the trend of the key Spanish population during 1990-2000
was unknown, the population in Portugal was stable, and there was no evidence to
suggest that the species’s status deteriorated overall.
Listen to the sound of Azure-Winged Magpie
Copyright remark: Most sounds derived from xeno-canto
Habitat
Breeds in west Palearctic only in warm lower middle latitudes in Iberia, locally in mountain gorges at c. 700 m but also at sea-level on sand-dunes overgrown with planted stone pine and introduced eucalyptus. In Coto Doñana (Spain) such modern woodlands are fully colonized, to virtual exclusion of the locally abundant Magpie, which nests there chiefly in low bushes outside woods. Arboreal, but forages freely on ground under canopy. In contrast to far separated Asian population, shows no marked preference for broad-leaved trees, or for river banks and islands. Also inhabits open cultivated or grass country with groups of trees, scrub, or hedgerows, and orchards or groves of olive and cork oak.
Foraging habits
Invertebrates, especially beetles, seeds, fruits, and more rarely small vertebrates; also carrion, scraps, and refuse. Forages generally in flocks, very often on ground. Stores food (acorns, olives, pine seeds) in caches in ground, presumably for later consumption.
copyright youtube
Breeding habits
Central Spain: at 300 m altitude, eggs laid early April to late May; at 1250 m, eggs laid early June to late July. Southern Spain and eastern Portugal: eggs laid end of April to early or mid-May. One brood. Clutch from 5 to 7.
Generally in fork of branch towards edge of tree crown, top often covered by leaves of supporting branch. Preferred position is in mid-crown vertically but as far from trunk as possible without being visible in outer foliage; apparently best position for avoiding predators. Nest: rough, loose foundation of twigs, inside which layer of compacted pellets of earth, mud, or dung in form of bowl 2-5 cm thick, in which is embedded rough lower part of lining (roots, pine needles, small twigs) covered by rootlets, plant down, fibres, moss, lichen, animal hair, sheep‘s wool, feathers, etc., whole lining c. 1 cm thick. Fresh and aromatic stalks and flowers may be incorporated.
Generally in fork of branch towards edge of tree crown, top often covered by leaves of supporting branch. Preferred position is in mid-crown vertically but as far from trunk as possible without being visible in outer foliage; apparently best position for avoiding predators. Nest: rough, loose foundation of twigs, inside which layer of compacted pellets of earth, mud, or dung in form of bowl 2-5 cm thick, in which is embedded rough lower part of lining (roots, pine needles, small twigs) covered by rootlets, plant down, fibres, moss, lichen, animal hair, sheep‘s wool, feathers, etc., whole lining c. 1 cm thick. Fresh and aromatic stalks and flowers may be incorporated.
Conservation
This species has a large range, with an estimated global Extent of Occurrence of 1,000,000-10,000,000 km². It has a large global population, including an estimated 520,000-920,000 individuals in Europe (BirdLife International in prep.). Global population trends have not been quantified, but the species is not believed to approach the thresholds for the population decline criterion of the IUCN Red List (i.e. declining more than 30% in ten years or three generations). For these reasons, the species is evaluated as Least Concern. (source Birdlife.org)
Migration
Resident in the whole of European breeding range, Spain and Italy
Distribution map breeding season
Distribution map wintering season
Literature
Title Sex determination of Iberian Azure-winged Magpies Cyanopica cyanus cooki by discriminant analysis of external measurements.
Author(s): Susana Alarcos, Carlos de la Cruz, Elena SolÃs, Juliana Valencia and MarÃa Jesús GarcÃa-Baquero
Abstract: Like all corvids, the Azure-winged Magpie Cyanopic..[more]..
Source: Ringing & Migration (2007) 23, 211-216
Title Testosterone and helping behavior in the azure-winged magpie
(Cyanopica cyanus): natural covariation and an experimental test
(Cyanopica cyanus): natural covariation and an experimental test
Author(s): Carlos de la Cruz et al
Abstract: In this study, we investigated patterns of natural..[more]..
Source: Behav Ecol Sociobiol (2003) 55:103-111
Title VARIACIÓN DEL HEMATOCRITO DURANTE EL PERÃODO
REPRODUCTOR EN EL RABILARGO CYANOPICA CYANUS
REPRODUCTOR EN EL RABILARGO CYANOPICA CYANUS
Author(s): M.a Jesus GARCÃA-BAQUERO et al
Abstract: Changes in the haematocrit in Azure-winged Magpies..[more]..
Source: Ardeola 49(1), 2002, 51-57
Title Synchronic east–west divergence in azure-winged magpies (Cyanopica cyanus) and
magpies (Pica pica)
magpies (Pica pica)
Author(s): A. Kryukov et al
Abstract: Morphometric and genetic analyses were performed t..[more]..
Source: J. Zool. Syst. Evol. Research 42 (2004) 342-351
Title THE NESLING DIET OF THE IBERIAN AZURE-WINGED MAGPIE CYANOPICA CYANUS COOKI IN SOUTHEASTERN PORTUGAL
Author(s): Filipe CANÃRIO et al
Abstract: The Azure-winged Magpie Cyanopica cyanus is a smal..[more]..
Source: Ardeola 49(2), 2002, 283-286