Asir magpie

The Asir magpie (Pica asirensis) is about long, and its weight is . Its head, neck, back, front chest, rump, and feet are all black. Its shoulders and belly are white. Its tail is black with purple to bronze-green iridescence. Compared to the Eurasian magpie, the Asir magpie has longer and stouter bill and legs, darker plumage with reduced white on the scapulars, and a black rump. Its voice is also distinct, "a mournful prolonged screech" and it also gives a loud "quaynk-quaynk" call. There is no difference between males and females, but juvenile Asir magpies are duller than adults, with no white scapular patch, and less iridescent wing and tail feathers. == Habitat ==

The Asir magpie primarily lives above , mostly from , Asir magpies usually group in pairs and live in flocks; the flocks typically contain up to seven birds, likely family parties. The Asir magpie is omnivorous. Its diet varies according to the changes in seasons. When breeding, it mainly feeds on animal-based food such as caterpillars. During the rest of the year, it relies on seeds, including berry-like juniper cones and figs, and also visits picnic sites to eat scraps (boiled rice, fruit, etc.) left by people. == Status ==

A highly endangered species, there are only 270 Asir magpies estimated to exist, and the extent of occurrence (breeding/resident) has shrunk to . A high degree of habitat fragmentation from tourism development and urban expansion poses a great threat to its existence by restraining the exchange of genetic materials between groups from different habitats. Moreover, Asir magpies may suffer from malnutrition as a result of feeding on human food waste of poor nutritional quality, which could potentially lead to extinction of the species. == See also ==