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Blue Magpie is a beautiful bird of the Corvidae family, belongs to the sedentary species of birds. Outside the breeding season, as a rule, keeps in small flocks, leading a nomadic lifestyle.
The blue magpie among related species is easily recognized by the characteristic long tail of a stepped shape and the overall color of a pleasant bluish color, as well as the black cap adorning its small head. As a rule, forty small colonies nest, the bird is very careful. The magpies of this species are distinguished by a rather loud, distant voice from afar.
The main habitat of this bird can be divided into two separate areas - the Pyrenean Peninsula and Southeast Asia. For its habitat, the blue magpie chooses mostly 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, as well as 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 grams.
The most preferred habitat of this type of bird is mixed forests, groves. Often the bird nests in groves with olive and almond trees. Nests are built from dry branches, the inside is lined with moss.
The distinctive feature of the nests of the blue forty from their ordinary relatives is an open top. Birds are very unpretentious in the diet, often choose reserves and park areas for living, reproduction in captivity is possible, but not as frequent as in the wild.
Lifestyle features
From the keen eyes of these birds it is impossible to hide almost anything, the hunter's bait is quickly hunted down and destroyed. Often, birds themselves are thus trapped and become easy prey for birds of prey and animals.
Fishermen do not particularly like magpies, this is because lovers of a quiet hunt will not have time to decompose the catch on the grass, as the bird immediately swoops down on the prey caught in sight, grabs the larger fish and immediately flies away.
Also often magpies of this species attack pigeons, while the reasons for this behavior of birds are still not precisely understood. Some experts put forward a version of the fact that the hostility between these birds exists because of the coincidence of the time of breeding. As a rule, magpies feed their chicks with animal food, due to which aggravation of aggression in a given period of time is possible.
In the summer of blue magpie is very rare, because in this season it hides in deserted places. Often it is a dense forest vegetation. Colonies of birds are small, as a rule, their number does not exceed 10 pairs. The main nesting place is a willow growing near water bodies.
Power Features
Blue magpies are omnivores, most often their diet consists of seeds of various plants. Favorite delicacy of this species of birds is almonds. Actually, therefore, these birds often live in almond gardens.
Also, often small invertebrates, insects, rodents are victims of these blue beauties. Do not refuse these birds and the use of berries. Like the common magpie, her blue cousin is also often used for the extraction of food by theft (trap bait, fishermen’s catch).
The main food for forty in the cold season is food, which birds are often fed by people. The care of birds from the human side is explained by the fact that this species of feathery is included in the Red Book. Often they stray into small flocks that wander from place to place in search of suitable food.
Reproduction of species, life expectancy
For the construction of nests selected dry vegetation. The erected nest is strengthened by clumps of earth, and a moss cushion is placed inside.Each pair of birds nests on a separate tree, closely located nests are practically not found. The diameter of the nest magpies reaches 30 cm, depth - up to 10 cm.
The number of eggs in one laying of the bird - up to 8 pcs. Blue magpie eggs can be of different sizes and shapes, the color is brownish. The eggs are laid by the female every other day, the duration of hatching is about 2 weeks. During this period, the male blue magpie meets for food, bringing food directly to the nest and feeding its half.
In a relatively short period of time, the hatchlings become independent, after which they leave their parents. The average duration of forty in nature is about 10 years.
Features of communication birds
The language of forty is quite diverse, mainly consisting of croaking sounds and characteristic chatter. As a rule, the meaning of signals emitted by birds depends on the circumstances in which the bird is located. The sounds that are produced also differ in the tempo with which the bird emits them, in length and volume.So, for example, females can make quite loud warning cries even if there is no danger. But the males emit such screams only if they actually feel any threat to themselves and to their family.
I would also like to pay special attention to the fact that the signals issued by the forty have their own emotional coloring. The more a bird is agitated - the louder, more intermittent and faster its chatter. Accordingly, on the basis of this, the reaction to the sounds heard by the tribesmen also differs - as a rule, at a low pace, the birds stop and listen, and at high, they immediately fly away.
Marital singing directly depends on the time when the nesting season begins, it can be, like imitation of sounds made by other animals or birds, and quite gentle and iridescent trills.
An interesting fact - the majority of tribesmen and animals perceive the loud voice of the magpie as a signal of 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 recognize their own reflection in the mirror. For example, parrots, seeing the reflection perceive it as another individual.
In China, forty is considered a bird bringing happiness and good luck. Russian folklore more links this beautiful bird with talkative women, gossip.
Video: Blue Magpie (Cyanopica cyana)
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