The Indochinese green magpie

Two yellow-breasted magpies perch on a tree at Wutong Mountain in Shenzhen on Feb. 19, 2022.

Indochinese green magpie

Shenzhen is well known for having a wide variety of resident bird species as well as regular visitors. Once in a while our city receives unique and unexpected passersby, such as the fascinating Indochinese green magpie (Cissa hypoleuca). The astonishing vibrant green bird, measuring 35 cm, will take any observer’s breath away.

众所周知，深圳是许多留鸟与候鸟的家园。有时，一些意外来客——比如旅鸟黄胸绿鹊，也会在深圳现身。这种鸦科鸟类体长35厘米，身披耀眼的绿色羽毛，美丽得让人移不开眼睛。

The green magpie has a very loud call that will immediately catch any wildlife observer’s attention; however, its green coloration makes the bird quite difficult to spot, as it blends perfectly with the surrounding vegetation.

黄胸绿鹊的叫声十分响亮，极易引起观鸟者的注意。但它们绿色的羽毛与周围的植被融为一体，因此很难被人发现。

Aside from its green plumage, this fantastic bird has a thick black stripe that goes all the way from the base of the beak to the back of its head and covers the eyes. The beak is bright red as is the distal part of their wings. However, this species has shown a lot of different color variations that go from being entirely blue to having a yellow belly and a green back.

黄胸绿鹊具由喙基经枕部环绕整个头侧的宽阔黑色贯眼纹，喙部和翅尖呈鲜红色。除了绿色型，本物种还有许多不同的形态，有的全身蓝色，有的腹部呈黄色。

A yellow-breasted magpie perches on a tree at Wutong Mountain in Shenzhen on Feb. 19, 2022.

Green magpies are known for being social birds, usually flying together in flocks. Mating pairs also like to build their nests together using some roots or small twigs. The female will lay up to four eggs per clutch and the incubation period will last for about three weeks.

黄胸绿鹊是群居鸟，通常结小群活动。繁殖期时，雌雄亲鸟会使用植物根部及小枝条等材料共同筑巢，雌鸟每窝最多产4枚卵，孵化期约三周。

This beautiful species feeds on almost any animal they can find that fits their bills. Picking through leaf litter or foraging on the ground, they try to find insects, frogs, lizards and even snakes.

黄胸绿鹊属于有什么吃什么的机会主义肉食者。它们喜欢在地面觅食，经常翻找落叶，寻找躲藏在下面的昆虫、蛙类、蜥蜴、甚至蛇等动物。

A yellow-breasted magpie perches on a tree in the rain at Wutong Mountain in Shenzhen on Feb. 19, 2022.

It is quite remarkable to have these amazing creatures visiting Shenzhen since this species is not a migratory bird, so feel lucky to have them around and enjoy the new visitors to our city. If we continue protecting Shenzhen’s green areas, it is very likely that in the near future we may have even more species not only passing by, but staying among us forever.

黄胸绿鹊不是候鸟。所以能在深圳见到这些稀客，实在是令人惊喜。如果我们能够继续保护好深圳的绿地，在不久的将来很可能会有更多的新物种来这里安家落户，而不是匆匆过客，只给我们留下惊鸿一瞥。