The Javan green magpie (''Cissa thalassina'') is a

passerine A passerine () is any bird of the order Passeriformes (; from Latin 'sparrow' and '-shaped') which includes more than half of all bird species. Sometimes known as perching birds, passerines generally have an anisodactyl arrangement of their ...

bird in the crow family,

Corvidae Corvidae is a Cosmopolitan distribution, cosmopolitan Family (biology), family of Songbird, oscine passerine birds that contains the crows, ravens, Rook (bird), rooks, magpies, jackdaws, jays, treepies, choughs, and Nutcracker (bird), nutcrackers ...

endemic Endemism is the state of a species being found only in a single defined geographic location, such as an island, state, nation, country or other defined zone; organisms that are indigenous to a place are not endemic to it if they are also foun ...

to montane forests on the island of Western

Java Java is one of the Greater Sunda Islands in Indonesia. It is bordered by the Indian Ocean to the south and the Java Sea (a part of Pacific Ocean) to the north. With a population of 156.9 million people (including Madura) in mid 2024, proje ...

Indonesia Indonesia, officially the Republic of Indonesia, is a country in Southeast Asia and Oceania, between the Indian Ocean, Indian and Pacific Ocean, Pacific oceans. Comprising over List of islands of Indonesia, 17,000 islands, including Sumatra, ...

. This

critically endangered An IUCN Red List critically endangered (CR or sometimes CE) species is one that has been categorized by the International Union for Conservation of Nature as facing an extremely high risk of extinction in the wild. As of December 2023, of t ...

species was once more widespread, but it has suffered significant population declines due to habitat loss and illegal capture for the wild animal trade. Once common, it is now found in only four protected areas, with estimates of the remaining wild population being as low as 50 individuals. While others speculate that the lack of recent sightings might mean that it already is

extinct in the wild A species that is extinct in the wild (EW) is one that has been categorized by the International Union for Conservation of Nature as only consisting of living members kept in captivity or as a naturalized population outside its historic range ...

. In an attempt at saving the species, the Javan green magpie has been part of a captive breeding program since 2011. A captive breeding program based on confiscated individuals has been initiated by the Cikananga Wildlife Center in Java and a few European EAZA zoos starting in 2015. It has successfully bred at both the Javan and European facilities, and as of 2018 this captive population had reached about 50 individuals. It formerly included the Bornean green magpie as a subspecies, in which case the "combined" species was known as the short-tailed magpie.

Description

The Javan green magpie has a green crown and underparts, with a black "mask" marking around the eyes, russet wings, and white tertiary feathers. It has bright red beaks and eyerings; its legs are equally bright, ranging from red to orange. The eyes are dark brown, and it has a short, bluntly graduated tail.

Distribution and habitat

The Javan green magpie is restricted to a small range in western Java, where it has been recorded in

Mount Merapi Mount Merapi (, ) is an active stratovolcano located on the border between the province of Central Java and the Special Region of Yogyakarta, Indonesia. It is the most active volcano in Indonesia and has erupted regularly since 1548. It is loc ...

National Park,

Mount Halimun Salak National Park Mount Halimun Salak National Park is a 400 km2 conservation area in the Indonesian province of West Java on the island of Java. Established in 1992, the park comprises two mountains, Mount Salak and Mount Halimun with an 11-kilometer forest ...

, Mount Gede Pangrango National Park and South Parahyangan Practice Forest and Nature Reserve. These areas are located predominantly in montane forests and foothills at elevations between . While the bird prefers higher altitudes, it is occasionally seen in lower land areas and at the edges of forests. The surrounding region includes tea gardens, where the Javan green magpie is known to occasionally raid these gardens for food.

Behaviour and ecology

The Javan green magpie feeds primarily on invertebrates, including snails, crustaceans, isopods, scarab beetles, and other insects. During the breeding season, the bird has been observed feeding on small vertebrates, such as lizards, smaller birds, eggs, frogs, and even snakes. This diverse diet supports the bird's energetic lifestyle and is particularly important during the breeding period. It also feeds on small

lizard Lizard is the common name used for all Squamata, squamate reptiles other than snakes (and to a lesser extent amphisbaenians), encompassing over 7,000 species, ranging across all continents except Antarctica, as well as most Island#Oceanic isla ...

s and

frog A frog is any member of a diverse and largely semiaquatic group of short-bodied, tailless amphibian vertebrates composing the order (biology), order Anura (coming from the Ancient Greek , literally 'without tail'). Frog species with rough ski ...

Reproduction

The breeding habits of the Javan green magpie are still not fully understood, but it is thought to breed throughout much of the year, particularly during the rainy season. Nests are typically built in trees using thin twigs, bamboo, and large leaves, located 2-3 meters above the ground. These nests are often in areas with thin branches, making them vulnerable to poaching. The magpies typically lay one or two eggs, which are smooth and glossy with a pale yellow or off-white color, marked with reddish or yellow streaks. Javan green magpies are altricial, meaning they hatch with no feathers and are completely dependent on their parents for care. The initial plumage of fledglings is bluish, with dark face and wing markings. As they grow, they develop beige-brown feathers. Javan green magpies lay cream coloured speckled eggs and are

altricial Precocial species in birds and mammals are those in which the young are relatively mature and mobile from the moment of birth or hatching. They are normally nidifugous, meaning that they leave the nest shortly after birth or hatching. Altricial ...

, hatching with no feathers, completely dependant on their parents. A fledgeling's initial plumage is bluish, with the dark face and wing markings. They have beige-brown beaks and eyerings with light orange legs. They become green after their first

moult In biology, moulting (British English), or molting (American English), also known as sloughing, shedding, or in many invertebrates, ecdysis, is a process by which an animal casts off parts of its body to serve some beneficial purpose, either at ...

Conservation

The Javan green magpie faces significant conservation challenges, largely due to its popularity in the illegal pet trade and the international parrot trade. In Indonesia, wild-caught birds are commonly captured for sale in the pet market, and the species' striking appearance has made it highly sought after. This illegal trade has contributed to a severe population decline. In response, conservation efforts are being made to protect the species. Habitat surveys and long-term monitoring programs are ongoing to assess viable habitats and guide future conservation efforts. In 2021, the Cikananga Wildlife Center launched a survey to evaluate these habitats and help ensure the species' survival. Efforts to breed the species in captivity, as well as habitat protection, are key to maintaining the Javan green magpie population and preventing further declines.

References

Javan green magpie Birds of Java Critically endangered fauna of Asia Javan green magpie {{Corvidae-stub