Grey Treepie

Overview

The grey treepie, also known as the Himalayan treepie, is a medium-sized, long-tailed bird belonging to the crow family. It is widely distributed across the Indian subcontinent and extends into Indochina, Nepal, southern mainland China, and Taiwan.

Identification

• Length of 36–40 cm with a body size comparable to other Dendrocitta species, distinguished by overall grey plumage.
• Black bill and blackish-brown legs, paired with red or reddish-brown eyes.
• Grey underparts that become whiter towards the vent, contrasting with brownish backs and scapulars.
• A prominent white carpal patch on the black wings, with rufous vents and black outer tail feathers.
• A harsh, grating voice that includes sounds like 'k-r-r-r-r' and barking 'braap...braap...braap' calls.

Habitat

Largely arboreal, this species occupies a wide range of habitats including forest, cultivation, and human habitation. Its range covers the Himalayan foothills, the Eastern Ghats in India, Bangladesh, Myanmar, Thailand, China, Hainan, Taiwan, and northern Indochina.

Diet

An omnivore, it feeds on a wide range of insects and invertebrates, berries, nectar, grain, seeds, small reptiles, eggs, and nestlings. It is mostly an arboreal feeder but will take food from the ground, especially in cultivated regions, and sometimes joins mixed-species foraging flocks.

Did you know?

In the Himalayan foothills of Nepal, this species is known to breed at altitudes ranging from 2,000 to 6,000 feet, primarily between May and July. Both the male and female actively participate in building the nest and feeding the young birds.