
Photo: John Gould / Henry Constantine Richter · Public domain
Pica bottanensis
Habitat
Observed as high as 4,800m
Range
West-central China and Bhutan, possibly irregularly in Sikkim and eastern Nepal
Size
Wing 233–259mm, tail about 250mm
The black-rumped magpie is a pied magpie with bluish-green iridescent wings and tail, differing from other Pica magpies, except the Asir magpie, in having no white on the rump. It is native to west-central China and Bhutan, and possibly irregularly in Sikkim in India and eastern Nepal. It was described as a species in 1840, long treated as a subspecies of the Eurasian magpie, and restored to species rank in 2018 (Wikipedia, general species account).
Wings are 233–259mm and tails about 250mm. It is uncommon at the highest altitudes, though observed as high as 4,800m. Breeding is largely similar to other Pica magpies, with a single brood from April to June, and it has a subdued, warbling song (Wikipedia, general species account).