Bird · GBIF taxon 5844936
Iberian Magpie
Cyanopica cookiAlso known as Azure-winged Magpie, Iberian Azure-winged Magpie, Spanish Magpie
Iberian magpies are highly social corvids recognizable by their glossy black caps, soft pinkish-fawn bodies, and striking azure-blue wings and long tails. They roam open oak woodlands and dehesas in noisy family groups, engaging in cooperative breeding where non-breeding helpers assist in raising chicks. These intelligent foragers move seamlessly between trees and the ground, maintaining constant communication with rasping, metallic calls.
SocialColorfulVocal
—observations
—countries
—peak records
Least ConcernConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXLeast ConcernRed List categories, explained →
Diet & prey
- Acorns
- Insects
- Berries
Predators
- Raptors
- Domestic cats
- Genets
ThreatsHabitat loss, agricultural intensification, excessive pesticide use
HabitatsDehesas, open Mediterranean oak woods, pine forests, orchards, olive groves
Life span5–10 years
Size / weightNot available
Classification
- FamilyCorvidae
- SpeciesCyanopica cooki
Range data is not available yet.
Interaction riskLow
- Low
- Moderate
- High
- Very high
- Why interaction risk is low
- Safe to observe at a normal distance.
Responsible observation
- Listen for Calls: Keep an ear out for their rasping contact calls echoing through oak groves.
- Watch Dehesa Habitats: Look for noisy family parties gliding between trees in open woodlands.
- Keep Distance at Nests: Avoid approaching communal nesting sites during spring breeding.
Co-occurring Corvidae Alexis Lours / CC BY 4.0 · cc-by
Co-occurring Corvidae (c) Luc Viatour, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA) · cc-by-sa
Close Relative J. Patrick Fischer / CC BY-SA 3.0 · cc-by-sa
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