Indochinese Green Magpie Cissa hypoleuca ranges China to Vietnam, Cambodia, and Thailand. In China, jini from southern Sichuan to southern Guangxi and katsumatae endemic to Hainan. HABITAT & BEHAVIOR Tropical and subtropical broadleaved forests, also secondary forests, to 1300 m (4,270 ft.). Mainly carnivorous, taking all sorts of invertebrates and raiding birds’ and lizards’ nests for eggs and nestlings. Sometimes in mixed flocks with laughingthrushes and drongos. ID & COMPARISON Very similar to Common Green Magpie C chinensis. Striking, vivid-green, shy but noisy; commonly heard before seen. Has black mask extending from loral area to nape, chestnut wings, and grey tip to long tail. Rest of plumage completely bright green with tinge of yellow on underparts. When worn, green plumage may bleach to light bluish. Hindcrown shows slight shaggy crest. Tertials have pale green tips. Juveniles duller; nearly white on undertail coverts. Common Green Magpie has black and white tips to secondaries and tertials, is uniformly green below, and has a longer tail. BARE PARTS Red eye-ring, bill, and feet. VOICE One-note calls and hysterical, grating cackles and chatter. — Craig Brelsford
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
Daniel Bengtsson served as chief ornithological consultant for Craig Brelsford’s Photographic Field Guide to the Birds of China, from which this species description is drawn.
