Red billed Blue Magpie

The property we were staying at Near Satal, Uttarakhand at height of approx. 5000 feet had a few wonderful furry visitors, one such Red billed Blue magpie was a treat to the eye.

The red-billed blue magpie is a brightly colored member of the crow and jay family. Bird species in this family, called Corvidae, are known for their intelligence and problem-solving skills. It is believed that their showy tails play a role in courtship displays. Its long tail is a brighter violet-blue, and it has a wide white tip. The main feathers on its wings are also violet-blue. One of the most striking features is its bright orange-red bill. Its legs, feet, and the ring around each eye are also this same bright red color. Sometimes, this red color can look almost yellow in some birds, depending on where they live.

The red-billed blue magpie lives across a large area. You can find it in the northern parts of the Indian subcontinent. It also lives further east, stretching into countries like Myanmar, Thailand, Cambodia, Laos, and Vietnam. It is also found throughout central and eastern China, reaching up to southwest Manchuria.

These birds prefer to live in evergreen forests and bushy areas. They especially like hilly or mountainous places. They have even learned to live in cities! You can see them in big Chinese cities like Beijing and Hong Kong. Red-billed blue magpies build their nests in trees and large bushes. Their nests are usually not very deep. A female magpie typically lays three to five eggs.

These birds look for food both in trees and on the ground. They eat many different things. This includes small bugs, other tiny animals, fruits, and some seeds. They are also known to take eggs and baby birds from other nests. are very good at copying sounds. Their calls are quite varied. However, their most common calls are a harsh rattling sound and a high-pitched whistle that sounds a bit like a flute.

© Rajat Ghosh, stock footage / pictures available for licensing

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