What's in a name for the Azure-winged Magpie?

As you might have guessed, the name 'Azure-winged Magpie' comes from its long tail.

Yes, it's quite straightforward. The name directly points to its prominent tail. Despite its beautiful blue coloration also being a distinctive feature, the naming focuses solely on its tail length.

Why does the Azure-winged Magpie live there?

Azure-winged Magpies inhabit brightly lit forests and bamboo groves on low mountains, often choosing woods adjacent to residential areas, living in close proximity to humans. They can be seen perching on fruit trees in gardens, showing how close their relationship with humans can be.

They live in groups, ranging from about 17-35 birds, possessing territories but seemingly indifferent to human boundaries. They may even visit yards or balconies to feed if food is available, recognizing and coexisting with human presence.

What does the Azure-winged Magpie eat?

The Azure-winged Magpie is omnivorous, feeding mainly on insects, fruits, and seeds. It's also known to raid nests for eggs and chicks, typically targeting birds smaller than itself, which highlights the harsh reality of nature's food chain.

They forage in small groups, which allows them to find more food and spot dangers more efficiently than if they were alone.

Azure-winged Magpies are known to hoard food, gathering more than they can eat in one sitting. This behavior is similar to a family shopping not just for today but for tomorrow, ensuring they have enough to get by in case of any unforeseen circumstances.

How do Azure-winged Magpies reproduce?

The female Azure-winged Magpie displays to attract a mate by spreading her wings and calling out while perched on a tree. If a male likes what he sees and hears, he approaches her with food, similar to a human offering flowers.

Once paired up, they start building a nest, usually in trees close to residential areas, using twigs. They mate for life, but incubating the eggs is the female's role. It takes about 17-20 days for the eggs to hatch, and then both parents, along with their offspring from the previous year, contribute to feeding the young, demonstrating strong group cohesion.

Interestingly, male chicks stay within the group post-fledging, while females leave to find their own partners. Chicks do not have the 'black hat' of their parents initially; they have white-spotted black plumage on their heads and shorter tails but grow into their full elegant plumage as they mature.

Is it true that Azure-winged Magpies raise Cuckoo chicks?

Cuckoos are known for laying their eggs in the nests of other birds, and the Azure-winged Magpie is one such unwitting host.

Despite the magpie's high intelligence and the ability to transmit learned behaviors across generations, it initially did not recognize cuckoo eggs as intruders. However, within about a decade, they developed strategies to deter cuckoos.

These strategies include preventing cuckoos from approaching nests and promptly removing any suspicious eggs, significantly reducing the instances of Azure-winged Magpies raising cuckoo chicks. Yet, cuckoos continue to refine their eggs to more closely mimic those of the Azure-winged Magpie, in a dynamic evolutionary arms race.

What are the natural predators of the Azure-winged Magpie?

Predators include larger birds of prey like eagles, hawks, and owls, with crows being a major threat, mainly targeting eggs and chicks. To protect their nests, Azure-winged Magpies initially nested near Japanese Sparrowhawks, which deter crows. However, the growing urban crow population has become accustomed to sparrows, diminishing this protective measure. As a result, Azure-winged Magpies have had to find new strategies to protect their offspring from these and other threats.