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The blue magpie is a beautiful bird of the corvidae family; it belongs to the settled species of birds. Outside the breeding season, as a rule, it keeps in small flocks, leading a nomadic lifestyle.
It is easy to recognize the blue magpie among related species by the characteristic long tail of a stepped form and the general coloring of a pleasant bluish color, as well as the black cap decorating its small head. As a rule, forty small colonies nest; the bird is very careful. Magpies of this species are distinguished by a rather loud, from afar audible voice.
The main habitat of this bird can be divided into two separate areas - the Iberian Peninsula and southeast Asia. Blue magpie for its habitat chooses mainly deciduous forests near river valleys.
Natural habitat
In fact, the blue magpie is the pride of the corvidae family, which stands out among other species for its unique appearance. The blue magpie looks similar to the usual magpie, the main difference is in the color of the plumage, and also in the fact that these birds have a small beak and rather short legs. The average bird length does not exceed 36 cm, weight - not more than 100 g.
The most preferred habitat for this bird species is mixed forests, groves. Often a bird nests in groves with olive and almond trees. Nests are built from dry branches, the inside is lined with moss.
A distinctive feature of the nests of the blue magpies from their common relatives is its open top. The birds are very unpretentious in nutrition, often they choose nature reserves and park areas for living, captive breeding is possible, but not as frequent as in the wild.
Lifestyle features
It is impossible to hide practically nothing from the keen eyes of these birds; the hunter's bait is quickly tracked down and destroyed. Often, birds themselves thus fall into a trap and become easy prey for birds of prey and animals.
Fishermen do not like magpies especially, this is due to the fact that lovers of quiet hunting do not have time to lay the catch on the grass, as the bird immediately flies to the catch caught in sight, grabs a larger fish, and immediately flies away.
Also, magpies of this species often attack pigeons, and the reasons for this behavior of birds have not yet been clarified. Some experts put forward the version that hostility between these birds exists because of the coincidence of the time of breeding. Typically, magpies feed their chicks with animal food, which may exacerbate the manifestation of aggression in a given period of time.
In the summer, the blue magpie is very rare, because this season it hides in uninhabited places. Often it is a dense forest vegetation. Small bird colonies, as a rule, their number does not exceed 10 pairs. The main nesting site is willow, growing near water bodies.
Power Features
Blue Magpies are omnivorous birds, most often their diet consists of seeds of various plants. The favorite delicacy of this species of birds is almonds. Actually, that's why these birds often settle in almond gardens.
Also often small invertebrates, insects, rodents become victims of these blue beauties. These birds do not refuse from the use of berries. Like the common magpie, its blue cousin also often hunts for theft for food (bait from traps, catch of fishermen).
The main food for magpies in the cold season is the food that people often feed birds. The care of birds by humans is explained by the fact that this species of birds is listed in the Red Book. Often they stray into small flocks that wander from place to place in search of suitable food.
Reproduction of the species, life expectancy
For the construction of nests, dry vegetation is selected. The erected nest is strengthened by lumps of earth, a pillow of moss is placed inside. Each pair of birds nests on a separate tree, closely located nests practically do not occur. The diameter of the magpie nest reaches 30 cm, the depth is up to 10 cm.
The number of eggs in one bird clutch is up to 8 pcs. Blue magpie eggs can be of different sizes and shapes, the color is brownish. The egg is laid by the female every other day, the incubation time is about 2 weeks. During this period, the male blue magpie is responsible for obtaining food, bringing food directly to the nest and feeding its half.
Hatching chicks become independent in a fairly short period of time, after which they leave their parents. The average duration of forty in nature is about 10 years.
Features of bird communication
The language of forty is quite diverse, mainly consisting of croaking sounds and characteristic chirping. As a rule, the values of signals emitted by birds, directly depends on the circumstances in which the bird is. Sounds also vary in pace at which the bird makes them, in length, and volume. So, for example, females can emit rather loud warning cries even if there is no danger. But males emit such cries only if they actually feel any threat to themselves and their family.
I would also like to draw particular attention to the fact that the signals emitted by magpies have their own emotional coloring. The more the bird is excited, the louder, more intermittently and faster its chatter. Accordingly, on the basis of this, the reaction to the heard sounds of the fellow tribesmen also varies - as a rule, at a low rate of chirping, the birds stop and listen, with a high one they immediately fly away.
Marital singing directly depends on the time when the nesting season begins, it can be either an imitation of sounds made by other animals or birds, or rather gentle and iridescent trills.
An interesting fact - most fellow tribesmen and animals perceive the magpie's loud voice as a signal of a possible danger.
In fact, magpies are one of the most intelligent birds that only exist in nature. Also, these birds are the only species of birds that recognizes their own reflection in the mirror. For example, parrots, seeing a reflection perceive it as another individual.
In China, magpie is considered a bird bringing happiness and luck. Russian folklore more connects this beautiful bird with chatty women who dissolve gossip.
Video: Blue Magpie (Cyanopica cyana)
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