Bornean black magpie
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Aves
Order: Passeriformes
Family: Corvidae
Genus: Platysmurus
Species:
P. aterrimus
Binomial name
Platysmurus aterrimus
(Lesson, 1831)
Synonyms
  • Platysmurus leucopterus aterrimus

The Bornean black magpie (Platysmurus aterrimus), also known as the black crested magpie, is a treepie in the family Corvidae. It is endemic to the Southeast Asian island of Borneo.[1]

Taxonomy

The Bornean black magpie was formerly considered a distinctive subspecies of the black magpie, but more recent revisions now consider it a full species, Platysmurus aterrimus.[1][2]

Description

The magpie is about 43 cm in length.[3] It has all-black plumage with a long, broad and graduated tail, a stout black bill, a tall, bristly crest, black legs and feet, and red irises. It has a taller crest than, and lacks the white wing patch of, the nominate subspecies.[4]

Behaviour

The magpie is a garrulous and sociable bird, often seen in family parties. It has a variety of whistling and chattering calls and is also a vocal mimic. It flies with shallow wing beats that produce a distinctive low throbbing whoo or boobooboo sound.[4][1]

Breeding

A nest found in the Tabin Wildlife Reserve in September 1981 was described as being about 20 cm across, built of sticks and sited 8 m up in a small tree.[3]

Feeding

The magpie is an arboreal, foliage-gleaning, insectivore and frugivore, also opportunistically taking small mammals and reptiles.[3]

Distribution and habitat

The magpie is found in the lowlands of Borneo, ranging in altitude up to about 300 m above sea level. It inhabits primary forest, including dipterocarp, kerangas and peat swamp forest, and is also found in secondary forest, overgrown tree plantations and scrub.[3]

References

  1. 1 2 3 Phillipps, Quentin; Phillipps, Karen (2011). Phillipps' Field Guide to the Birds of Borneo. Oxford, UK: John Beaufoy Publishing. ISBN 978-1-906780-56-2.
  2. ↑ "Species Updates – IOC World Bird List". Retrieved 2021-05-29.
  3. 1 2 3 4 Smythies, Bertram E.; Davison, Geoffrey W.H. (1999). The Birds of Borneo. Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, Malaysia: Natural History Publications (Borneo) and the Sabah Society. pp. 630–631. ISBN 983-812-028-6.
  4. 1 2 "Black Magpie". HBW Alive. Lynx Editions. 2013. Retrieved 2013-11-16.
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