Cissa
Encyclopedia
Cissa is a genus
of relatively short-tailed magpie
s, though sometimes known as hunting cissas, that reside in the forest
s of tropical and subtropical southeast Asia
and adjacent regions. The three species are quite similar with bright red bill
s, a mainly green plumage
, black mask, and rufous
wings. Due to excess exposure to sunlight (and, possibly, a low-carotenoid
diet), they often appear rather turquoise
(instead of green) in captivity
. They are carnivorous, and mainly feed on arthropod
s and small vertebrates.
Genus
In biology, a genus is a low-level taxonomic rank used in the biological classification of living and fossil organisms, which is an example of definition by genus and differentia...
of relatively short-tailed magpie
Magpie
Magpies are passerine birds of the crow family, Corvidae.In Europe, "magpie" is often used by English speakers as a synonym for the European Magpie, as there are no other magpies in Europe outside Iberia...
s, though sometimes known as hunting cissas, that reside in the forest
Forest
A forest, also referred to as a wood or the woods, is an area with a high density of trees. As with cities, depending where you are in the world, what is considered a forest may vary significantly in size and have various classification according to how and what of the forest is composed...
s of tropical and subtropical southeast Asia
Southeast Asia
Southeast Asia, South-East Asia, South East Asia or Southeastern Asia is a subregion of Asia, consisting of the countries that are geographically south of China, east of India, west of New Guinea and north of Australia. The region lies on the intersection of geological plates, with heavy seismic...
and adjacent regions. The three species are quite similar with bright red bill
Beak
The beak, bill or rostrum is an external anatomical structure of birds which is used for eating and for grooming, manipulating objects, killing prey, fighting, probing for food, courtship and feeding young...
s, a mainly green plumage
Plumage
Plumage refers both to the layer of feathers that cover a bird and the pattern, colour, and arrangement of those feathers. The pattern and colours of plumage vary between species and subspecies and can also vary between different age classes, sexes, and season. Within species there can also be a...
, black mask, and rufous
Rufous
Rufous is a colour that may be described as reddish-brown or brownish-red, as of rust or oxidised iron.The first recorded use of rufous as a colour name in English was in the year 1782....
wings. Due to excess exposure to sunlight (and, possibly, a low-carotenoid
Carotenoid
Carotenoids are tetraterpenoid organic pigments that are naturally occurring in the chloroplasts and chromoplasts of plants and some other photosynthetic organisms like algae, some bacteria, and some types of fungus. Carotenoids can be synthesized fats and other basic organic metabolic building...
diet), they often appear rather turquoise
Turquoise (color)
Turquoise or is a slightly blueish tone of light green. The color is based on the gem turquoise. The term comes from the French for Turkish.At right is displayed the X11 color named turquoise....
(instead of green) in captivity
Captivity (animal)
Animals that live under human care are in captivity. Captivity can be used as a generalizing term to describe the keeping of either domesticated animals or wild animals. This may include for example farms, private homes and zoos...
. They are carnivorous, and mainly feed on arthropod
Arthropod
An arthropod is an invertebrate animal having an exoskeleton , a segmented body, and jointed appendages. Arthropods are members of the phylum Arthropoda , and include the insects, arachnids, crustaceans, and others...
s and small vertebrates.
Species
- Green MagpieGreen MagpieThe Green Magpie is a member of the Crow family, roughly about the size of the Eurasian Jay or slightly smaller. It is a vivid green in colour , slightly lighter on the underside and has a thick black stripe from the bill to the nape...
(Cissa chinensis) - Yellow-breasted MagpieYellow-breasted MagpieThe Indochinese Green Magpie or Yellow-breasted Magpie is a passerine bird of crow family, Corvidae. It is native to China and south east Asia....
(Cissa hypoleuca) - Short-tailed MagpieShort-tailed MagpieThe Short-tailed Green Magpie , also known as the Short-tailed Magpie, is a passerine bird in the crow family, Corvidae. It is endemic to montane forests on the southeast Asian islands of Borneo and Java. It dwells in thick vegetation in the mid and upper storeys of forests, and makes only short...
(Cissa thalassina)