Rufous treepie

Rufous treepie
Conservation status
	; Least Concern (IUCN 3.1)
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Class:	Aves
Order:	Passeriformes
Family:	Corvidae
Genus:	Dendrocitta
Binomial name
	Dendrocitta vagabunda;

The rufous treepie (Dendrocitta vagabunda) is a species of bird in the Corvidae (crow) family. The rufous treepie is native to the Indian Subcontinent and adjoining parts of Southeast Asia from Pakistan to Vietnam. Woodland, forest edges and gardens are the habitat of this species. It feeds on various fruits, insects and carrion.

Distribution and subspecies

The rufous treepie builds its nest 6−8 meters above the ground in trees. Both male and female take turns breeding and feeding the young. There are usually 3-5 eggs laid.^[2] After the young have hatched, the remain with their parents for several months. Rufous treepies form pair bonds for life.

The species was first described in 1790 by John Latham. A previous description as "Dendrocitta rufa" is not valid. It belongs to the Treepie genus Dendrocitta which is Southeast Asian in distribution. According to ornithologist Derek Goodwin, the rufous treepie may be closely allied to the hooded treepie (D. frontalis). There are eight recognized subspecies. There are no estimates for the population of this species. It is common throughout its range, but rare in Vietnam.

Description

The Rufous Treepie is shorter and smaller than the European magpie.^[2] The head, neck and breast are grey, although sometimes they are slightly brown. The underparts and lower back are orange-brown. The tail is a light blue color with a black tip. The bill, legs and feet are black.^[2]

Sources

Literature

Salím Ali, S. Dillon Ripley: Handbook of the Birds of India and Pakistan. Volume 5: Larks to the Grey Hypocolius. Oxford University Press, London 1972.
Joseph del Hoyo, Andrew Elliot, David Christie (Hrsg.): Handbook of the Birds of the World. Volume 14: Bush-shrikes To Old World Sparrows. Lynx Edicions, Barcelona 2009, ISBN 9788496553507.

References

↑ BirdLife International (2009). "Dendrocitta vagabunda". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2008. International Union for Conservation of Nature. Retrieved 12 November 2009.
↑ ^2.0 ^2.1 ^2.2 ":: BIRDS INFO :: Rufous Treepie". birdsinfo.net. 2012. Archived from the original on 24 June 2010. Retrieved 14 February 2012.

[1] BirdLife International (2009). "Dendrocitta vagabunda". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2008. International Union for Conservation of Nature. Retrieved 12 November 2009.

[birdsinfo-2] 2.0 ^2.1 ^2.2 ":: BIRDS INFO :: Rufous Treepie". birdsinfo.net. 2012. Archived from the original on 24 June 2010. Retrieved 14 February 2012.

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