From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Species of bird
The
Javan green magpie
(
Cissa thalassina
) is a
passerine
bird in the crow family,
Corvidae
. This
critically endangered
species is
endemic
to montane forests on the
Indonesian
island of
Java
.
[1]
[2]
It formerly included the
Bornean green magpie
as a subspecies, in which case the "combined" species was known as the short-tailed magpie.
[2]
Once common, the species has declined drastically as a result of
habitat loss
and illegal capture for the wild animal trade.
[3]
The size of the remaining wild population is unknown, but perhaps only around 50 individuals,
[3]
while others speculate that the lack of recent sightings might mean that it already is
extinct in the wild
.
[4]
In an attempt at saving the species, a captive breeding program based on confiscated individuals has been initiated by the Cikananga Wildlife Center in Java (since 2011) and a few European
EAZA
zoos (since 2015).
[3]
[5]
It has successfully bred at both the Javan and European facilities,
[4]
[5]
and as of 2018 this captive population had reached about 50 individuals.
[6]
Appearance
[
edit
]
Javan green magpies are primarily a vivid green, with a black "mask" marking around their eyes, russet wings, and white tertiary feathers. They have bright red beaks and eyerings; their legs are equally bright, ranging from red to orange. Their eyes are dark brown and they have a relatively short tail.
The bright green plumage is the result of a combination of structural coloration, and the yellow pigment
lutein
, which they gain from their insect diet.
[3]
They also feed on small lizards and frogs.
[4]
In captivity, adults turn bluish (the
structural colour
of their feathers) if their diet is inadequate in lutein.
[3]
Young
[
edit
]
Javan green magpies lay cream coloured speckled eggs
[7]
and are
altricial
, hatching with no feathers, completely dependant on their parents. A
fledgeling's
initial plumage is bluish, with the dark face and wing markings. They have beige-brown beaks and eyerings with light orange legs. After their first
moult
they become green.
[5]
References
[
edit
]
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Azure-winged
magpies
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Grey
jays
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New World
jays
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