Maghreb Magpie Pica mauritanica Scientific name definitions
- LC Least Concern
- Names (29)
- Monotypic
Text last updated April 8, 2018
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Species names in all available languages
Language | Common name |
---|---|
Basque | Mika magrebtarra |
Bulgarian | Магребска сврака |
Catalan | garsa del Magrib |
Croatian | sjevernoafrička svraka |
Czech | straka severoafrická |
Danish | Maghreb Husskade |
Dutch | Maghrebekster |
English | Maghreb Magpie |
English (United States) | Maghreb Magpie |
Finnish | atlaksenharakka |
French | Pie du Maghreb |
French (Canada) | Pie du Maghreb |
Galician | Pega mourisca |
German | Maghrebelster |
Hebrew | עקעק מגרב |
Hungarian | Magreb-szarka |
Icelandic | Húsaskjór |
Japanese | マグレブカササギ |
Norwegian | maghrebskjære |
Polish | sroka gołooka |
Portuguese (Portugal) | Pega-do-magreb |
Russian | Магрибская сорока |
Serbian | Afrička svraka |
Slovak | straka saharská |
Spanish | Urraca Magrebí |
Spanish (Spain) | Urraca magrebí |
Swedish | maghrebskata |
Turkish | Mağrip Saksağanı |
Ukrainian | Сорока мавританська |
Pica mauritanica Malherbe, 1845
Definitions
- PICA
- pica
- mauritana / mauritanica / mauritanicum / mauritanicus / mauritanus
The Key to Scientific Names
Legend Overview
Field Identification
c. 48 cm; one female 180 g. Adult has relatively large blue patch of bare skin behind eye ; rest of head down to breast and entire upperparts black with hint of purple and green sheen; scapulars white, upperwing mostly black, secondaries and tertials with steely-blue gloss (becoming more bronzy with wear), primaries white with well-demarcated broad black edges; very long tail black with metallic green or purplish gloss, this becoming more bronze-purple with wear; central underparts white, lower belly to rear flanks, tibia feathering and undertail-coverts black; iris dark brown; bill and legs black. Sexes similar. Juvenile is similar to adult but duller, with black parts of plumage more sooty and unglossed, white areas less pure.
Systematics History
Hitherto treated as conspecific with P. pica, but differs in its broad blue flange behind eye (3); narrower white belly (1); much shorter wing (effect size vs P. p. melanotos −6.07; score 3); but longer tail (effect size vs P. p. melanotos 1.66; score 1); may also have more varied vocabulary (1). Monotypic.
Subspecies
Distribution
N Africa (Morocco, N Algeria and Tunisia).
Habitat
Movement
Diet and Foraging
Omnivorous. Diet consists predominantly of invertebrates such as beetles (Coleoptera), along with lizards, small mammals, frogs, and the eggs and nestlings of other birds, as well as carrion. Feeds also on fruits and seeds when these are available, and will readily consume discarded food scraps. Forages on ground , rarely at higher levels. Generally alone or in pairs or family parties, occasionally in small groups; often wary.
Sounds and Vocal Behavior
Commonest call a rapid chatter, similar to that of P. pica but higher-pitched and uttered with more undulating rhythm; said also to have a more varied vocabulary than P. pica, but seemingly these remarks apply to S Moroccan birds (those in N Morocco appear to be vocally closer to P. pica).
Breeding
Season not well documented, probably early, with nestbuilding from Dec/Jan. Nest a large domed structure built by both sexes, constructed of thorny sticks and twigs, entrance at side, lined with softer fibres and animal hair (sometimes also some mud), and placed well above ground in tree or tall shrub. Clutch usually 4–6 eggs, pale greenish blue or sometimes olive-brown, variably unmarked or speckled and blotched with grey to olive-brown, 30–38·1 mm × 22–25·2 mm. Other details probably similar to those for P. pica.
Conservation Status
Not globally threatened (Least Concern). Fairly widespread but rather uncommon and local; very few in Tunisia and declining in parts of Morocco. This species is not particularly well known, and there are no data on its population size and trends. It is patchily distributed, with nests on average 264 m apart within “patches”. It appears not to be in decline and it is not at risk from habitat destruction.
- Year-round
- Migration
- Breeding
- Non-Breeding