Birdsong field guide
Yellow-billed Blue-Magpie
Urocissa flavirostris
A striking Himalayan corvid characterized by its exceptionally long tail, azure plumage, and namesake bright yellow bill.
What it sounds like
A varied repertoire of loud, metallic ringing notes, harsh squawks, and proficient mimicry of other mountain species.
Field notes
- Possesses a graduated tail that can reach up to 45 cm, significantly exceeding the length of its body.
- Distinguished from the Red-billed Blue-Magpie by its yellow bill and a smaller white patch on the hindneck.
- Exhibits complex social behavior, typically traveling in noisy family groups of 6 to 12 individuals.
- Maintains an omnivorous diet ranging from wild fruits and seeds to small vertebrates and the eggs of other birds.
- Found at higher elevations than its relatives, residing in montane zones up to 3,300 meters during summer months.
Habitat
Temperate broadleaf forests, particularly oak and rhododendron stands, and sub-alpine scrub.
Range
The Himalayan range across northern India, Nepal, Bhutan, southern Tibet, and northern Myanmar.
Similar & commonly confused birds
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