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Birds

Birds

Common name Azure-winged magpie
Scientific name Cyanopica cyanus
Type Forest birds
Status Resident

Medium-sized bird (approx 35 cm or 14 in). One of the two colourful plumage corvids present in the province. Plumage of bluish, white and brown tones. Very long, blue tail. Blue wings, brown back. Cream breast and ventral area, white throat and head with black cap.

Habitats

Woodland environment

Where it lives

Woodland species that uses mosaics and crops with trees, grasslands and cleared forests. Present also in urban environments.

How it lives

Resident bird in the province all year round. It breeds from April. A single annual laying of 4 to 9 eggs. Omnivorous feeding, both small animals, insects and plant matter. It also takes advantage of waste and man-made remains. Gregarious and noisy habits.

Where it can be seen in Malaga

In Malaga azure-winged magpies are still scarce and their populations are restricted to the northeastern region and Antequera area. In the Great Path they can be watched in stages 11, 12, 13, 14, 16 and 17.

Curious facts

Their name in Latin makes reference to their colour ("kyanos" = dark blue) and to their belonging to the group of the magpies ("pica"). That is, they are blue magpies. These birds are monogamous and there is normally a sexual bias in their populations: there are fewer females than males. For this reason, in the flocks many males fail to reproduce. To compensate for this, azure-winged magpies adopt a cooperative breeding strategy, so that males that do not breed turn into helpers of couples that do.

Present
JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Wintering Summer Resident Migration
Audios