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The Iberian magpie ( Cyanopica cooki) is a bird in the Corvidae. It is long and similar in overall shape to the Eurasian magpie ( Pica pica) but is slenderer with proportionately smaller legs and beak. It belongs to the genus Cyanopica.
This taxon was formerly treated as conspecific with the azure-winged magpie ( C. cyana), but this population is 5,400 miles (9,000 km) away from those in eastern Asia. Genetic analysis has suggested that Iberian and azure-winged magpies are distinct species. Other include Iberian azure-winged magpie, Cook's azure-winged magpie, and Spanish azure-winged magpie.
This species usually nests in loose, open colonies with a Bird nest in each tree, same mean clutch size is 6.2 eggs, but only 32% of nesting attempts are successful, with an average 5.1 young fledged.
Description
It has a glossy black top to the head and a white throat. The underparts and the back are a light grey-fawn in colour with the wings and the of the long (16–20 cm) tail are an azure blue.
Distribution and habitat
The Iberian magpie occurs in southwestern and central parts of the Iberian Peninsula, in Spain and Portugal. However, it can sometimes be spotted also in south-western France, and recently its presence has been reported even in north-western Italy. It inhabits various types of (mainly pine) and broadleaf forest, including parks and gardens in the eastern populations.
Behaviour and ecology
Often Iberian magpies find food as a family group or several groups making flocks of up to 70 birds. The largest groups congregate after the breeding season and throughout the winter months. Their diet consists mainly of (oak seeds) and , extensively supplemented by and their larvae, soft and berries, and also human-provided scraps in parks and towns.
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