Indochinese green magpie
The Indochinese green magpie (Cissa hypoleuca) or yellow-breasted magpie, is a passerine bird of the crow family, Corvidae. It is native to mainland southeast Asia (Indochina) and adjacent China.
| Indochinese green magpie | |
|---|---|
 | |
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Aves |
| Order: | Passeriformes |
| Family: | Corvidae |
| Genus: | Cissa |
| Species: | C. hypoleuca |
| Binomial name | |
| Cissa hypoleuca | |
This species' yellow undersides make it distinct from the other species in its genus.
They have russet coloured wings, with green shoulders, back, head and tail. They also have a thick black band marking from the bill, all the way round the head. The beak, legs and eye rings of this species are a vivid red, while their eyes are a very dark brown.
As with all magpies in the Cissa genus, their green (and yellow) plumage is due to a combination of the pigment lutein, and structural coloration. Their feathers fade to the structural blue if the bird has a diet insufficient in lutein[2], which is not produced by the body.
References
- BirdLife International (2016). "Cissa hypoleuca". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2016: e.T22705813A94036926. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-3.RLTS.T22705813A94036926.en. Retrieved 12 November 2021.
- "When Javan Green Magpies feel blue – Silent Forest". www.silentforest.eu. Retrieved 2020-11-28.