# Red-billed Blue Magpie (*Urocissa erythroryncha*) The Red-billed Blue Magpie is a colorful bird with bright blue feathers and a long tail. It loves to hop around in trees and is known for its loud, cheerful calls. - **Category:** [Birds](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/bird) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Habitat:** Mountain regions ![Red-billed Blue Magpie](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Urocissa_erythrorhyncha.jpg&width=800) Photo: Charles Lam from Hong Kong, China, CC BY-SA 2.0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Urocissa_erythrorhyncha.jpg) ## Appearance The Red-billed Blue Magpie has a striking appearance with a long, graduated blue tail tipped with white. Its head and neck are velvety black, contrasted by a small white patch on the nape, and a bright, coral-red bill and legs. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Animalia - **Phylum:** Chordata - **Class:** Aves - **Order:** Passeriformes - **Family:** Corvidae - **Genus:** Urocissa ## Interesting facts - Magpies have been known to 'mob' larger predators to protect their group. - Their long, flowing tail can be twice as long as their body! - They communicate with over 20 different calls, like a secret bird language! - They love to stash shiny objects in their nests, just like a treasure hunter! ## Special abilities - **Smart Foraging:** Red-billed Blue Magpies can use tools and problem-solve to find hidden food because of their high intelligence. - **Sound Mimicry:** Red-billed Blue Magpies can perfectly imitate other bird calls and even human sounds, helping them communicate. - **Team Hunters:** Red-billed Blue Magpies work together in noisy groups to raid nests and flush out prey, making them effective hunters. ## Measurements & details - **Length:** 65-68 cm - **Wingspan:** 45-55 cm - **Weight:** 0.196-0.232 kg - **Lifespan:** 10-15 years - **Speed:** 40 km/h - **Clutch Size:** 3-8 - **Incubation:** 17-20 days ## Diet & Feeding These intelligent birds enjoy a mixed diet of fruits, seeds, insects, and even small animals. - **Primary Foods:** insects, lizards, bird eggs, chicks, berries, seeds - **Foraging Method:** Foraging ## Ecological connections - **Eaten by:** Mountain Hawk-Eagle (*Nisaetus nipalensis*) — Hunts adult magpies in their forest habitat. - **Eaten by:** Copper-headed Trinket Snake (*Coelognathus radiata*) — Raids nests, preying on eggs and chicks. - **Depends on:** Sacred Fig (*Ficus religiosa*) — Eats its fruits, a vital food source. - **Hunts:** Yellow-browed Warbler (*Phylloscopus inornatus*) — Preys on its eggs and nestlings. ## Traits - [Feathered](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/feathered): Feathered describes animals, primarily birds, possessing a covering of feathers. - [Social](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/social): Social animals live in organized groups, cooperating for survival benefits such as foraging, defense, and raising offspring. - [Omnivorous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/omnivorous): This trait identifies organisms whose diet includes both plant and animal matter. - [Singing](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/singing): Singing animals produce complex vocalizations, often for purposes of attracting mates, defending territory, or communicating within their species. - [Colorful](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/colorful): Colorful describes organisms or objects displaying a wide range of bright and distinct colors. - [Tool Use](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/tool-use): This trait describes organisms that manipulate external objects to achieve a specific goal. - [Mountain](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/mountain): This habitat trait identifies species found in mountainous regions, characterized by high elevation, steep slopes, and varying climate zones. - [Diurnal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/diurnal): Diurnal animals are primarily active during daylight hours, typically resting or sleeping at night. - [Endangered](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/endangered): Endangered status indicates a species is at a very high risk of extinction in the wild in the near future. ## Collections - [Birds](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/birds) ## Safety **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low Enjoy watching birds from a distance and do not try to touch them. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify Red-billed Blue Magpie? Compare the silhouette, bill shape, tail length, wing bars and markings around the eyes. The same small brown bird at your feeder can look quite different in breeding plumage, winter plumage or its first year. Bird Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details. ### How long is Red-billed Blue Magpie? 65-68 cm ### What is Red-billed Blue Magpie's wingspan? 45-55 cm ### How much does Red-billed Blue Magpie weigh? 0.196-0.232 kg ### How long does Red-billed Blue Magpie live? 10-15 years ### How fast can Red-billed Blue Magpie move? 40 km/h ### What does Red-billed Blue Magpie eat? These intelligent birds enjoy a mixed diet of fruits, seeds, insects, and even small animals. ### Where is Red-billed Blue Magpie usually found? Mountain regions ## More Birds - [Black-crowned Night Heron](https://www.snappit.app/explore/black-crowned-night-heron) (*Nycticorax nycticorax*) - [Anna's Hummingbird](https://www.snappit.app/explore/annas-hummingbird) (*Calypte anna*) - [Great Egret](https://www.snappit.app/explore/great-egret) (*Ardea alba*) - [Blue Jay](https://www.snappit.app/explore/blue-jay) (*Cyanocitta cristata*) --- Source: [Red-billed Blue Magpie: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/red-billed-blue-magpie)