Red-billed Blue Magpie
Urocissa erythroryncha
Visual Identification
Appearance
The Red-billed Blue Magpie is a striking bird with vibrant blue plumage, a black head speckled with white, and an exceptionally long, graduated tail marked with white spots. Its bright red bill and legs stand out against its predominantly blue body, while the white tips on its wings and tail create a distinctive pattern.
Both sexes share similar colouration, with no significant differences between males and females. Juveniles have duller plumage with a whitish throat and face, and their bills start greyish before developing the adult's red colouration.
Size
Length
65cm to 68cm
Wingspan
90cm to 100cm
Weight
196g to 232g
Colours
Males and females have similar plumage
Primary Colour
Blue Black
Secondary Colour
White
Beak Colour
Red
Leg Colour
Red
Habitat and Distribution
Habitats
Woodland
Garden
Wetland
Coastal
Urban
Farmland
Grassland
Desert
Tundra
Rainforest
Mountain
Savanna
Distribution
Red-billed Blue Magpies inhabit a range of woodland habitats, including broadleaf and mixed forests, forest edges, and clearings. They are found in parts of southern and eastern Asia, including China, India, and Southeast Asian countries.
These non-migratory birds maintain their territories year-round. They are particularly common in hilly and mountainous regions and adapt well to various elevations within their range.
Elevation Range
Up to 2,500 meters
Climate zones
Subtropical, Temperate
Distribution Map
This map gives you a rough idea of where you might spot a Red-billed Blue Magpie. The coloured areas show countries where these birds have been seen.
A few things to keep in mind:
- Birds might not be everywhere in the coloured areas, for example, they may be present around the coast of that country
- Where birds live can change with seasons and available food
- This map is quite simple - it doesn't show exact locations
We're working on making our maps even better! Soon, we hope to show you:
- More detailed maps for bigger countries, including state and region
- How birds move around during different seasons
Distribution by Region
Behaviour and Ecology
Bird Attributes
This feature is in beta. We'd love your feedback to improve it!
Share your thoughtsBird Attributes Explained
Our bird attributes system rates various aspects of a bird's capabilities on a scale of 0-100, based on data from field observations, scientific studies, and expert knowledge.
Attribute Categories:
- Agility: Manoeuvrability, speed, and grace in flight or movement.
- Strength: Physical power, often correlating with size and hunting abilities.
- Adaptability: Ability to thrive in various environments or changing conditions.
- Aggressiveness: Territorial behaviour and assertiveness, particularly during breeding seasons.
- Endurance: Stamina, often seen in migration patterns or foraging behaviours.
Understanding the Ratings:
- 0-20: Very Low
- 21-40: Low
- 41-60: Average
- 61-80: High
- 81-100: Very High
Remember, these attributes are relative to other bird species and don't necessarily indicate superiority.
Hover over the icon next to each attribute for more information.
Tap the icon next to each attribute for more information.
Agility
Reflects the bird's manoeuvrability, speed, and grace in flight or movement.
Highly agile bird, known for acrobatic movements through trees and skilled aerial manoeuvres. Their long, graduated tail provides excellent balance, enabling precise navigation through complex forest canopies.
Strength
Indicates the bird's physical power, often correlating with size and hunting abilities.
Moderately strong for their size, capable of handling diverse prey including small reptiles and rodents. Their robust bill allows effective probing and manipulation of food items, though they're not among the strongest corvids.
Adaptability
Represents the bird's ability to thrive in various environments or changing conditions.
Exceptional adaptability demonstrated through their diverse diet, tool use capabilities, varied habitat preferences from lowlands to 2,500m elevation, and ability to thrive in different woodland environments. Their intelligence and social structure further enhance their adaptive capabilities.
Aggressiveness
Measures the bird's territorial behaviour and assertiveness, particularly during breeding seasons.
Whilst not overly aggressive, they display typical corvid territorial behaviour and will actively defend their nests. Their predatory nature when hunting smaller animals and cooperative group behaviour suggests moderate aggression levels.
Endurance
Reflects the bird's stamina, often seen in migration patterns or foraging behaviours.
Good endurance evidenced by their non-migratory lifestyle and active foraging behaviour throughout large territories. Their ability to maintain year-round territories and engage in extended periods of flight whilst foraging indicates solid stamina, though they're not known for particularly long-distance movements.
Diet
Red-billed Blue Magpies are omnivorous, with a varied diet that includes insects, small reptiles, rodents, and birds' eggs. They also consume fruits and seeds, particularly during the non-breeding season.
These birds often forage on the ground, using their strong bills to probe for food.
Behaviour
Red-billed Blue Magpies are highly social birds, often seen in small family groups or larger flocks. They are known for their acrobatic movements through trees, using their long tails for balance.
These intelligent birds engage in cooperative breeding, with family members helping to raise young.
Vocalisation
Red-billed Blue Magpies are known for their varied vocalisations. Their calls include harsh, grating 'kree-kree' sounds and softer, melodious whistles.
They also produce a series of chattering notes, especially when alarmed or in social interactions with other magpies.
Nesting & Breeding
Breeding season for Red-billed Blue Magpies typically occurs from March to July. Pairs form strong bonds and engage in mutual preening and food sharing as part of courtship rituals.
Nests are large, cup-shaped structures made of twigs and lined with softer materials like grass and moss. They are usually placed high in trees, often near the trunk. Females lay 3-5 pale blue or greenish eggs with brown spots.
Both parents participate in incubation, which lasts about 17-19 days. Nestlings are altricial and fledge after approximately 3-4 weeks but remain dependent on parents for several more weeks.
Conservation and Status
Global Conservation Status
While the Red-billed Blue Magpie is currently listed as Least Concern, habitat loss due to deforestation poses a potential threat.
Conservation efforts focus on protecting their woodland habitats, particularly in mountainous regions where they are most commonly found.
Birdwatching Tips
- Look for their distinctive long, blue tails in forested areas
- Listen for their loud, harsh calls, which can help locate them
- Observe them in small groups, often moving through the canopy
- Visit forest edges and clearings where they may forage on the ground
Additional Information
Quick Facts
Predators
Main predators include larger birds of prey such as hawks and eagles, as well as mammals like martens and leopard cats.
Did You Know?
- Red-billed Blue Magpies can mimic the calls of other birds and even some human-made sounds.
- They have been observed using tools, such as twigs, to probe for insects in tree bark.
- These magpies play an important role in seed dispersal, helping to maintain forest ecosystems.
References
- 1 3
website: BirdLife International. 2018. Urocissa erythroryncha. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2018: e.T22705802A130380978.
View source - 2
report, 1993: Madge and Burn
Share Your Feedback
We value your opinion! Let us know what you think about this bird page.