Sri Lanka Blue Magpie

Overview

The Sri Lanka blue magpie, or Ceylon magpie, is a brightly coloured bird found exclusively in Sri Lanka and classified as vulnerable to extinction. This species is adapted to hunting in the dense canopy, where it is highly active and nimble, though its flight is weak and rarely used to cover great distances.

Identification

• Measures 42–47 cm in length, larger than a mynah but smaller than a crow.
• Bright blue plumage with a reddish-brown or chestnut head, neck, and wing.
• Long, graduated blue tail with a white tip.
• Sturdy bill, legs, feet, and featherless eye ring are all vibrant red.

Habitat

Endemic to Sri Lanka, this species is found in tall, undisturbed forest in the mountains, foothills, and adjoining lowlands of the wet zone. It inhabits elevations ranging from below 150 to 2,150 m and is rarely seen in disturbed habitats such as gardens or plantations.

Diet

Primarily carnivorous, the diet consists of insects, frogs, and small lizards, though fruit is also consumed and they may prey on eggs or young of other bird species. They use strong legs and feet to forage, capable of hanging upside down to hold down prey, and have been observed rubbing hairy caterpillars against mossy branches to remove irritating hairs.

Did you know?

The bird mimics the calls of predators, such as raptors, which act as alarm signals for multiple species in the same region, including the greater racket-tailed drongo. It also imitates the calls and songs of other birds in its prolonged and elaborate subsong.