Iberian Magpie or Azure-Winged Magpie?

Here's how to tell the difference

Iberian Magpie

Cyanopica cooki

How to recognise an Iberian magpie?

General appearance

The Iberian magpie, also known as the Azure-winged magpie, is known for its striking appearance. It boasts a dark black head, chest, and tail, contrasted by a fascinating blue-green sheen on its wings which gives it its common name. Its under-parts are white or greyish-white.

Male vs female

The sexes of Iberian magpies are remarkably indistinguishable. Both males and females display a largely similar colour pattern. It is challenging to differentiate between the sexes using physical characteristics alone.

Juvenile

Juvenile Iberian magpies are similar to adults but with slightly muted colours. Additionally, their tail length is generally shorter compared to adults. After the first molt, they obtain their adult plumage.

Size

13.4 - 14.2 in/2.3 - 2.7 oz

Habitat

Primary habitat

The Iberian magpie primarily inhabits Mediterranean forests, woodlands, and scrub in Spain and Portugal. Its preferred environments are humid areas with a mix of trees and shrubs.

Additional range

Aside from its typical range, the Iberian magpie can also be found in farming areas, orchards, and large gardens. It is resilient and adaptable to human-altered landscapes.

Range Map

What do Iberian magpies like to eat?

Natural diet

The Iberian magpie primarily consumes a diverse diet typical of an omnivore. In its natural habitat, it feeds on insects, small invertebrates, fruits, berries, and seeds. It actively forages in woodland areas and open spaces, often searching the ground and low shrubs for beetles, caterpillars, and other insects. Additionally, during autumn and winter, it relies heavily on acorns, nuts, and wild berries to sustain itself when insect populations dwindle.

Bird feeders

At bird feeders, the Iberian magpie is often attracted to offerings such as suet, peanuts, and seeds. It is particularly fond of sunflower seeds and can sometimes be observed taking kitchen scraps and bread left out by bird enthusiasts. Despite being less common at feeders than smaller birds, when they do visit, they tend to monopolize the food, utilizing their intelligence and problem-solving skills to access a variety of food sources.

What does an Iberian magpie sound like?

The Iberian magpie vocalizes a variety of chatter calls, especially during flight, comprising a string of explosive 'chack' sounds mixed with squeaky notes. Its song consists of a complex array of melodious whistles, screeches, and warbles. This bird's call is characterized by its pitch and roller-coaster-like modulation, resembling the sounds of a jay or jackdaw. They also have a distinct 'peg-peg-peg' alarm call.

Call

Audio by Joost van Bruggen

/ CC BY-SA 4.0

Call

Audio by Joost van Bruggen

/ CC BY-SA 4.0

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Azure-Winged Magpie

Cyanopica cyanus

How to recognise an azure-winged magpie?

General appearance

Azure-winged magpies have a striking blue, black, and white coloration. The head, chest, and back are black, contrasting with the azure blue wings, tail, and 'eyebrows'. Adult magpies around 31–35 cm long, with an elongated tail structure.

Male vs female

Males and females share similar aesthetic characteristics. Differences between are subtle. Often, the female's size is smaller than the male's, and her tail feathers tend to be a bit shorter. The brightness of their blue wings is comparable across both genders.

Juvenile

Juvenile azure-winged magpies exhibit duller coloration than adults. Their feathers are less glossy, without the vibrant bluish tint on the wings and tail. The juvenile's iris is brown, which turns to a characteristic pale white as they mature.

Size

13.0 - 15.0 in/2.8 - 4.0 oz

Habitat

Primary habitat

Azure-winged magpies prefer open woodlands with oak and pine trees, usually in regions with warm, temperate climates.

Additional range

They are found in parts of Spain, Portugal, eastern China, Korea, and Japan. Unexpectedly, they may adapt to urban parks and gardens.

Range Map

What do azure-winged magpies like to eat?

Natural diet

The azure-winged magpie primarily feeds on a variety of natural food sources. This includes insects such as caterpillars, beetles, and grasshoppers which provide essential protein. It also consumes plant materials, including seeds, berries, and fruits such as acorns and olives. During certain seasons, its diet may shift to focus more on one type of food source depending on availability in its habitat.

Bird feeders

At bird feeders, the azure-winged magpie is known to consume a range of readily available foods. It often enjoys seeds like sunflower seeds, which are a popular choice among many bird species. Additionally, peanuts and suet can attract these birds, providing them with both fat and protein. The magpie's willingness to eat various foods makes it a frequent visitor to backyard feeders.

What does an azure-winged magpie sound like?

The Azure-winged Magpie has a distinctive call that often involves a series of high, chattering or warbling tones i.e., "sirrr-sirrr", often combined with a clear, stretched "tsiee" note. It's quieter song is composed of soft chirps and warbles. Occasionally, it is identified by a harsh "chack-chack" alarm call. The vocalizations are used for warning mates, communicating location, or attracting potential partners.

Call

Audio by Ding Li Yong

/ CC BY-NC-ND 4.0

Song

Audio by Ding Li Yong

/ CC BY-NC-ND 4.0

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Iberian Magpie

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Azure-Winged Magpie

Iberian Magpie

Cyanopica cooki

General appearance

Male vs female

Juvenile

Size

13.4 - 14.2 in/2.3 - 2.7 oz

There's more to learn about Iberian Magpie

View full details

Azure-Winged Magpie

Cyanopica cyanus

General appearance

Male vs female

Juvenile

Size

13.0 - 15.0 in/2.8 - 4.0 oz

There's more to learn about Azure-Winged Magpie

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How to tell the Iberian Magpie from the Azure-Winged Magpie

Visual differences

The Iberian Magpie and Azure-Winged Magpie have similar blue, black, and white coloration; however, there are key differences. The Iberian Magpie (13-14 inches, 2.3-2.7 oz) features a dark black head, chest, and tail with a blue-green sheen on its wings. In contrast, the Azure-Winged Magpie (12-15 inches, 2.8-3.9 oz) sports azure-blue wings, tail, and 'eyebrows,' with a black head and chest. Iberian Magpie juveniles have shorter tails, while Azure-Winged Magpie juveniles show less glossy colors. Azure-Winged Magpies are generally heavier and have a longer tail.

Key differences and behavior

The Iberian Magpie (Cyanopica cooki) and the Azure-Winged Magpie (Cyanopica cyanus) share similar habitats but exhibit distinct behavioral traits. Both species are highly vocal, forage in groups, and exhibit social courtship displays. Iberian Magpies are remarkable for their noisy colonial nesting habits in Mediterranean regions, while Azure-Winged Magpies, found in parts of Spain, Portugal, China, and Korea, adapt well to urban settings. Iberian Magpies often forgo high nesting and choose dense foliage for cover, whereas Azure-Winged Magpies prefer higher nests in tall trees. In terms of diet, both species enjoy seeds, insects, and fruits, with the Iberian Magpie known for monopolizing feeders. However, Azure-Winged Magpies are more frequent at feeders, thanks to their adaptability. Both magpies form monogamous bonds, but Azure-Winged Magpies more commonly involve extended family in chick-rearing. Despite similar omnivorous diets, the Azure-Winged Magpie exhibits more weight variability (2.8-3.9 oz) than the Iberian Magpie (2.3-2.7 oz).

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