Wild Bird Wednesday 713 - Common Green Magpie

The Common Green-Magpie (Cissa chinensis) was not an easy bird to spot in India.  Despite its common name I only saw a single individual of this species - and that was outside the hide at the Birders Den in Sattal in Uttarakhand. 

This was a wonderful place to stay, with great food, and possibly even more important a bird hide!  Fruit and small amounts of seed were provided outside the hide and the birds, knowing that a free feed was on offer, flocked in.

That being said, and as noted above, this was the only individual of this species I saw during this trip.  A knowledgable Indian birder who was in the hide at the time the this bird arrived point out that while the bird was both green and a true magpie, it was not at all common.

It was another of those special encounters - and if you have not had a look at this post about tigers, it shows some pictures from an even more special encounter! 

As you can see, this bird came in to an artificial pool of water outside the hide.  I am no fan of artificial reflection pools, but I was more then happy to see this bird.

E-bird describes this species as 'a neon-colored, noisy, highly social bird of lowland and mid-altitude subtropical forests. Surprisingly difficult to spot as it glides from tree to tree in the middle and upper levels of the forest. Memorable if seen well: bright green with chestnut-tipped wings, a black mask, and a coral-red bill'.   I have to say I agree with this analysis.

The Common Green Magpie is a member of the crow family, roughly the size of the Eurasian Jay or slightly smaller.

I have to say, I am particularly fond of the picture where this bird is poking out its tongue.

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