Yellow-billed Blue Magpie

The Yellow-billed Blue Magpie, also known as the Gold-billed Magpie, is a striking member of the Corvidae family, which includes crows and jays. This bird is notable for its elongated tail and vibrant plumage. The head, neck, and breast are a glossy black, contrasted by a distinctive white patch on the nape. The lower body is white with a subtle lilac hue. The upper parts gleam with purplish-blue, particularly vivid on the wings and tail. The tail itself is long and graduated, with the outer feathers tipped in white, while the central pair boasts a black band before ending in white.

Identification Tips

When observing this species, look for the combination of its yellow bill, black head, and the long tail with its unique color pattern. The white nape patch is also a key identifier. Both sexes are similar in appearance, making sex differentiation in the field a challenge.

Habitat

The Yellow-billed Blue Magpie is an arboreal bird, most commonly found in dense jungles. However, it is also known to inhabit agricultural areas and barren mountain sides at higher elevations.

Distribution

This bird's range extends across the northern Indian Subcontinent, particularly in the lower Himalayan foothills. It is divided into two subspecies, with U. f. cucullata being more common in the Western Himalayas and the eastern form present from Eastern Nepal eastwards.

Behaviour

These magpies are highly social and territorial, often seen in groups of seven or eight. They are primarily arboreal but do forage on the ground, adopting a distinctive hopping movement with the tail held aloft. Their diet is varied, including small mammals, eggs and young of other birds, insects, and wild fruits. They are known for their array of vocalizations.

Song & Calls

The Yellow-billed Blue Magpie is a vocal species with a repertoire of calls that can be heard echoing through its habitat.

Breeding

Nests are built in tree forks within dense foliage. The nests are large, made of sticks, and lined with grass. Clutches typically contain three to four eggs, which can range in color and are marked with specks and blotches of brown or purple.

Similar Species

The Red-billed Blue Magpie (Urocissa erythroryncha) shares its range with the Yellow-billed Blue Magpie but can be distinguished by its red bill and a more extensive white patch on the nape.

Diet and Feeding

The Yellow-billed Blue Magpie's diet consists of small mammals, bird eggs and young, insects, and various wild fruits and berries. They are known to feed on the ground as well as in trees.

Conservation status

The IUCN Red List classifies the Yellow-billed Blue Magpie as Least Concern, indicating that it currently faces no significant threats to its survival.