About Urocissa caerulea Gould, 1863
Urocissa caerulea, the Taiwan blue magpie, measures 63–68 cm (25–27 in) in total length. Its tail is around 34–42 cm (13–17 in) long, while its wings measure 20 cm (7.9 in) long. Adult individuals weigh between 254–260 g (9.0–9.2 oz). Males and females have similar plumage. The head, neck, and breast are black, with yellow eyes, and red bill and feet. Most of the remaining plumage is blue. The wing and tail feathers have white tips. Underwing-coverts are dark grey, and flight feathers are light grey. Uppertail-coverts have black tips. The central pair of tail feathers is the longest, and all other tail feathers have black bands. Chicks are greyish overall, with a short tail and greyish-blue eyes. This species is endemic to Taiwan, where it inhabits broadleaf forests at elevations between 300–1,200 m (980–3,940 ft). Taiwan blue magpies are scavenging omnivores. Their diet includes snakes, rodents, small insects, carrion, eggs and chicks of other birds, as well as plant matter, fruits, and seeds. They also consume human food waste. They will sometimes store leftover food on the ground, covering it with leaves to retrieve later. They may also store food in tree leaves or branches.
