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Iberian Magpie (Cyanopica cooki) Alternate name(s): "Iberian Azure-winged Magpie", "Cook's Azure-winged Magpie", "Spanish Azure-winged Magpie" German name(s): "Blauelster" Size: 31-35 cm (incl. tail ca. 16-20 cm); wing span 38-40 cm Body mass: 65-76 g Wing loading [g/cm2]: 0.30-0.35

Europe: Family Group 22 Family Group 22 Table Great Grey Shrike Iberian Grey Shrike Lesser Grey Shrike Woodchat Shrike Red-backed Shrike Eurasian Golden Oriole Eurasian Magpie Iberian Magpie Thumbnails page Family group table Index of bird names European birds home page

Similar species

Description     Classification     Distribution     Sightings     Photos     Breeding     Nest     Eggs     Behaviour     Food     Call/s

Physical description Click here for a physical description Iberian Magpies are small and slender magpies that have a black upper half of the head and nape of the neck and a white lower half of the head, throat and sides of the neck. The rest of the front is creamy, while the upperparts are a darker brownish-grey. The upperwings have pale-blue wing coverts and dark-grey primaries with white flashes that are usuall well-hidden and therefore not described in field guides. The uppertail is also pale-blue. Both undertail and underwings are grey to creamy. The tail is conspicuously long. The irises are black, the bill, legs and feet are also black.

Taxonomy, classification See Iberian Magpie at Wikipedia . Click here for classification information The Iberian Magpie has now been given full species status and is no longer considered to be a race of the Azure-winged Magpie (Cyanopica cyanus).

Range, habitat, finding this species Click here for information on habitat and range The overall distribution of this species can be assessed, and specific locations where birds have been spotted can be found, based on individual sighting reports submitted by birdwatchers to ebird.org . The global distribution of the Iberian Magpie is available HERE . As the name already suggests, the range of the Iberian Magpie is restricted to Iberia. Except for a few records elsewhere, the species is found in an area between Lison, Portugal, and the south-western tip of the peninsula, to Malaga, Spain, in the South-west to about Bilbao and Zaragoza, Spain, in the North-east. Especially during the breeding season, Iberian Magpies have a preference for woodland and forest with both conferous and decidious trees. Outside the breeding season they disperse into more open country.

Sightings Click here for sighting information J. Pires reports spotting Iberian Magpies occasionally in various locations in southern/central Portugal. All sighting and photographic information presented on this page has kindly been contributed by J. Pires.

Photos

ADULT

Sex unknown

Frontal view of an Iberian Magpie (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Mora, Evora, Portugal, May 2020]

Frontal view of an Iberian Magpie (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Cabo Sardao, Odemira, Portugal, October 2022]

Frontal view of an Iberian Magpie looking sideways (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Parque Ambiental de Vilamoura, Loule, Faro, Algarve, Portugal, October 2024]

Near-lateral view of an Iberian Magpie (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Pulo do Lobo, Mertola, South Alentejo, Portugal, October 2019]

Lateral view of an Iberian Magpie on the point of landing (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Vilarelhos, Alfandega da Fe, Tras-os-Montes, Norte, Portugal, January 2023]

Lateral view of an Iberian Magpie (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Mondego estuary, Portugal, January 2022]

Lateral view of an Iberian Magpie (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Vilarelhos, Alfandega da Fe, Tras-os-Montes, Norte, Portugal, January 2023]

Lateral view of an Iberian Magpie (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Cabo Sardao, Odemira, Portugal, October 2022]

Lateral view of an Iberian Magpie standing in a puddle (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Cabecao, Mora, Evora, Portugal, November 2025]

Lateral/ventral view of an Iberian Magpie (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Parque Ambiental de Vilamoura, Loule, Faro, Algarve, Portugal, October 2024]

Near-dorsal view of an Iberian Magpie looking sideways - note the white wing flashes (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Vila Flor, Braganca, Portugal, April 2025]

Near-dorsal view of an Iberian Magpie (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Cabo Sardao, Odemira, Portugal, October 2022]

Near-dorsal view of an Iberian Magpie (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Mora, Evora, Portugal, May 2020]

Dorsal view of an Iberian Magpie (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Mora, Evora, Portugal, May 2019]

Ventral view of an Iberian Magpie (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Quinta do Lago, Loule, Faro, Algarve, Portugal, October 2025]

Family clan of Iberian Magpies in a dormant tree (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Mora, Evora, Portugal, January 2014]

Iberian Magpies in a dormant tree (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Mora, Evora, Portugal, January 2014]

Lateral view of an Iberian Magpie launching itself into the air (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Montargil, Alentejo, Portugal, November 2014]

Near-lateral/ventral view of an Iberian Magpie in flight (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Mora, Evora, Portugal, May 2020]

Breeding information

Breeding season: Apr - Jul

Eggs: 4 - 9

Incubation period: 15 - 16 days

Fledging age: 14 - 16 days

The nest is built by the female with materials brought by the male. Most commonly, 5-7 eggs are laid.

Nest building: Female & male

Incubation: Female

Dependent care: Female & male

Nest

Type: Basket (sometimes domed)

Material: Sticks, lichen

Height above ground: 3 - 15 m

Frontal view of an Iberian Magpie sitting on its well-hidden nest (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Benespera, Guarda, Portugal, April 2025]

Eggs

Size: 26 x 20 mm

Colour: Creamy, with light-grey and dark-brown speckles

Shape: Tapered oval

Behaviour

Social behaviour: Territorial

Mobility: Sedentary

Elementary unit: Pair/family clan

Clan of Iberian Magpies having a bath and a drink (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Cabecao, Mora, Evora, Portugal, November 2025]

Clan of Iberian Magpies having a bath and a drink (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Cabecao, Mora, Evora, Portugal, November 2025]

Territorial dispute - Iberian Grey Shrike letting an Iberian Magpie know who is the boss (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Castro Verde, Alentejo, Portugal, February 2023]

Food, Diet

Iberian Magpies are omnivores that will eat anything from eggs and/or chicks of other bird species to carrion, invertebrates, insects, seeds and fruit.

Iberian Magpie taking a mulberry (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Mora, Evora, Portugal, May 2019]

Iberian Magpie checking whether any of the mulberries are ready (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Mora, Evora, Portugal, May 2018]

Lateral view of an Iberian Magpie carrying away its next meal (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Vilarelhos, Alfandega da Fe, Tras-os-Montes, Norte, Portugal, January 2022]

Lateral view of an Iberian Magpie having a drink (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Cabecao, Mora, Evora, Portugal, November 2025]

Call(s)/Song

For this species we have recorded the following call(s)/song. The interpretation of their meaning is our own; comments and suggestions for improvement are welcome.

imagpie_jp_20200418.m4a	(Portugal)	Contact calls	© JP
imagpie_jp_20200418_2.m4a	(Portugal)	Contact calls	© JP
imagpie_jp_20200418_3.m4a	(Portugal)	Contact calls	© JP
imagpie_jp_20220814.mp3	(Portugal)	Contact calls	© JP
imagpie_jp_20220814.mp3	(Portugal)	Contact calls	© JP

More Iberian Magpie sound recordings are available at xeno-canto.org .

These pages are largely based on our own observations and those of our contributors. The structure of these bird pages is explained HERE. For more salient facts on any bird species please refer to a field guide.

Would you like to contribute photos or sound recordings to this site? If interested, please CLICK HERE. Credits to contributors are given HERE.