Sri Lanka Blue Magpie
Description
Sri Lanka blue magpie is also known as the Ceylon magpie which is endemic to Sri Lanka. Ceylon Magpie is about 42-47cm long. It feeds on insects, frogs and small lizards and fruits. They lay three to five eggs. These birds are found in tall, undisturbed forests in the mountains, foothills of the wet zone in Sri Lanka. According to its conservation status it is a Vulnerable bird. It has a large long tail. Ceylon magpie is a noisy bird. This bird was first described in 1829. Ceylon Magpie is found in small groups of 3-7 birds. Their nest is somewhat similar to the crow's nest.
Classification
Scientific name - Urocissa ornata
Order- Passeriformes
Family- Corvidae
Kingdom- Animalia
Class- Aves
Phylum - Chordata
Genus- Urocissa
Distribution
These birds are found in the wet zone of Sri Lanka.
The main threat to Ceylon magpie is habitat loss due to the forests being cleared for agricultural lands, mines and human settlement.
