Black-rumped Magpie
Pica bottanensis
The Black-rumped Magpie (Pica bottanensis) is a rare crows, jays, and magpi found in 3 countries. The black-rumped magpie is a species of magpie native to west-central China and Bhutan, and possibly also irregularly in Sikkim in India, and in eastern Nepal.
About the Black-rumped Magpie
The black-rumped magpie is a species of magpie native to west-central China and Bhutan, and possibly also irregularly in Sikkim in India, and in eastern Nepal. It is similar to other magpies in the genus Pica, with pied plumage with bluish-green iridescent wings and tail, but differs from the other species in the genus except for Asir magpie in having no white on the rump. It was described as a species in 1840, but had long been treated as a subspecies of Eurasian magpie, before being restored to species rank in 2018. In breeding behaviour it is largely similar to other Pica magpies, laying a single brood from April to June.
Text adapted from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
How to identify it
The black-rumped magpie is black-and-white, with its namesake black rump, brighter plumage, stouter bill, and shorter tail being the main distinctive features from the closely related Oriental and Eurasian magpies. Its wings and tail are black with greeish-blue to purple iridescence, and large white stripes on the primary feathers visible in flight, while the flanks and central underparts are white. The wings are around 233–250 mm (9.2–9.8 in) for females and 241–259 mm (9.5–10.2 in) for males, with tails being 250 mm (9.8 in).
Where it lives
Recorded as a rare visitor in India.
When to see it
Best months: March, April, May, June, July, August, October, November, December, with peak activity in April. It is a variable species across most of its range.
Easily confused with
Quick questions
- How do you identify a Black-rumped Magpie?
- The black-rumped magpie is black-and-white, with its namesake black rump, brighter plumage, stouter bill, and shorter tail being the main distinctive features from the closely related Oriental and Eurasian magpies. Full identification notes are on this page.
- Where can you see a Black-rumped Magpie?
- The Black-rumped Magpie occurs in 3 countries, including China and Bhutan.
- What birds look similar to a Black-rumped Magpie?
- The Black-rumped Magpie is most easily confused with the Maghreb Magpie, the Asir Magpie and the Oriental Magpie.
Learn the Black-rumped Magpie for real
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