In an unfrequented acacia forest near a precipice sits a nest built by Formosan blue magpies. Out of nowhere, a crested goshawk suddenly makes an attack on the nest. A group of Formosan blue magpies--the parent birds along with companions--immediately fight off the invader. After some fierce fighting, the blue magpies are injured and feathers are damaged, yet they still look on anxiously at the fledglings in the nest to make sure they are safe and sound. Of all birds endemic to Taiwan, the Formosan blue magpie is the most familiar to local people. Noted for its unusually long tail, its habit of storing food, and its unique way of helping at the nest, it makes striking appearances in the green mountain wilderness of Taiwan.

Before Americans and Europeans came to identify and admire this large-sized bird, which rests mostly in forests at low altitudes, many aborigines in Taiwan were already familiar with it and had given it various names. As early as 300 years ago, historical documents from the Ching Dynasty had already listed it as an important bird, then called the "long-tailed mountain lass."

The Formosan blue magpie is adorned with eye-catching sapphire blue feathers that contrast strikingly with its scarlet beak. Its black-and-white segmented tail, twice the length of its body, enhances its beauty. When a Formosan blue magpie skips or flies, it sways its tail feathers, making it look very graceful and elegant. No wonder a poet even composed a poem to praise the bird: "Smooth and glossy is its plumage, and its long tail trails like clouds--how it resembles a stylishly attired beauty!"

A sapphire-blue fairy amid mountain forests

Back when that poem was composed, the Formosan blue magpie was a very common sight for farmers in Taiwan. Even now, it is not hard to encounter the magpie in suitably spacious and open areas with relatively dense forests nearby. If one is familiar with the behavior and calls of the bird and embraces a sympathetic love for forests, it is even easier to come across the bird.

Although Formosan blue magpies live in low-elevation forests, not all mountainous areas are suitable habitats for them. If a mountainous district is overly developed or the trees are not varied and rich enough, the birds will not settle there.

The birds often travel in flocks. When flying over trees and valleys, they follow one another in a long, straight line. Farmers gave this unique flying pattern a pertinent appellation: "the long-tailed formation."

The Formosan blue magpie has two close relatives across the straits in mainland China: the yellow-billed blue magpie (U. flavirostris) and red-billed blue magpie (U. erythrorhyncha). Although the Formosan blue magpie looks very similar to its two relatives, differences can still be detected upon close examination. Of the three birds, the Formosan blue magpie is the easiest to identify.

Although I have already given some description of the bird, one may still find it unfamiliar if one has never seen the bird before. Taiwanese are more acquainted with the black-billed magpie (Pica pica). Often seen as an emblem of good fortune, this magpie is a near relative of the Formosan blue magpie. Surprisingly, the large-billed crow (Corvus macrorhynchos), which most people consider a bad omen, is also closely connected to the black-billed magpie and the Formosan blue magpie.

In taxonomy, they all belong to the Corvidae family. Those who are interested can consult the Illustrated Handbook of the Wild Birds of Taiwan, a reference book popular among bird watchers; here it will not be difficult to identify the relationship of the birds. One can further understand the evolutionary connection among the birds by browsing through sections on the birds' behaviors.

In regard to the distribution of the three birds, Formosan blue magpies live only in low-elevation mountainous areas, black-billed magpies in the plains on the west coast of Taiwan, and large-billed crows can live up on Jade Mountain and down in the plains at the foot of the mountain ranges in Pitan, Hsintien, Taipei County. Judging from this, one can tell that Formosan blue magpies and black-billed magpies are far less capable of adapting to different environments than their short-tailed relatives. Despite this difference, there is one thing in common among these members of the Corvidae family: their raucous, husky calls.

Husky calls with variations

Once when I was birdwatching at the Fuyuan Forest Recreational Area, I heard sounds of "ki-ko-kuai" in the sky that resembled calls made by bamboo partridges (Bambusicola thoracica). My friend and I were puzzled by this strange phenomenon since these partridges usually call out amidst groves of trees. Just then, a flock of Formosan blue magpies flew by. That was when I began to perceive the slight differences in their calls. I have also heard the courtship calls that the birds make during breeding season. They produce diverse calls accompanied by a variety of flying styles, although their calls are all marked by the same hoarseness. They remind me of the famous local pop singer Wu Bai, who always sings at the top of his lungs with all his might.

One usually hears the loud calls during the spring when the breeding season begins. At that time, the long-tailed flight formation of the Formosan blue magpies becomes a rare sight as the birds no longer appear in groups. Instead, they come and go in couples which maintain a monogamous relationship. A pair of birds can often be seen preening each other' plumage. Ornithologists say that it is unlikely for Formosan blue magpies to change mates once they have found them.

My experience tells me that Formosan blue magpies tend to build their nests in sparsely wooded forests. They show no preferences for any particular kind of tree, as long as the trees are dense and thick. Such a nesting location ensures a clear view as well as safety for them. As for the height of the nest, there is no strict standard.

The trees they nest in are usually the better trees of a locality. If a tree were to be divided into five segments, the nest would often be built on the second segment from the top, at a height of about 10 meters, and partly obscured from view.

When a bird pair has decided on a nesting place, they start picking up twigs and branches from the ground to make the nest. Their nest, shaped like a big bowl, is roughly built without any attention to finer details, although they obviously make some effort to weave the twigs and branches together.

The "nest-helper" system

The nest is usually completed within a week. Eggs are then laid and incubated in the nest. Large-sized birds generally lay only a small number of eggs, but Formosan blue magpies are more productive. They lay five to eight eggs in a clutch. Their eggs are about the size of pigeon eggs.

As productive as Formosan blue magpies are, their mortality rate is high, perhaps because competition for survival is intense. Many baby magpies have been observed dying from hunger, killed by falls to the ground, or caught by hunters or predators during the breeding season.

In the world of animals, the young usually leave their parents and venture into the world after they have grown up. Even though they are unwilling to part, their parents force them to leave in order to prepare for the next breeding season. But some animals have developed a special behavior pattern called the "nest-helper system." The nurturing of Formosan blue magpies, for example, is characterized by this special behavior, which has greatly intrigued animal experts.

When parent birds are busy feeding their young, other Formosan blue magpies turn up in the nesting area to help. According to bird experts, the Formosan blue magpies that come to help feed the young are probably the parent birds' relatives or older children--hicks brought into the world last year or earlier this year. Generally, over one half of Formosan blue magpies breed twice a year.

But one should not assume that these "nest helpers" are showing human-like affection for their family members when they pitch in to help. Some researchers believe that by helping out at the nests, the young birds are simply learning to feed. This might explain why some of them eat or snatch away food that is intended for their younger siblings.

Sometimes when helpers are removing fecal sacs from a nest, they drop the sacs back into the nest because of unfamiliarity with the job. Furthermore, not all chicks of the first brood help their parents take care of their siblings. Some never show up.

The "nest-helper system" has many advantages. Thanks to the helpers' assistance, parent birds can go on to have a second nest only several days after the first brood of baby birds leave the nest. This efficient breeding strategy greatly contributes to the growth of a bird family and the survival of young fledglings.

On the other hand, chicks that have not yet reached breeding age can learn how to live and breed by living with their parents. The chance for younger generations to survive and to adapt to the outside world is thus substantially increased.

Protective parents

During this period of time, parent birds are extremely cautious in feeding their babies. Before bringing food to the nest, they first carefully clean it at a nearby perch.

Usually, baby birds become fully fledged and ready to leave the nest in three weeks' time. They cannot fly yet at this stage but can only perch on tree branches and try to flap their wings or hop around a bit. Parent birds are most nervous at this time, and one of them always stays close to protect the babies from possible predators. Even if human beings break into the nesting area, parent birds will ruthlessly attack them until they go away.

A few days later, when the fledglings are able to fly short distances, the adult birds take them around to acquaint them with the surrounding habitat, gradually expanding their flying range. When the young birds have perfected their flying skills, the adult birds fly with them across valleys and wilderness in their long-tailed formations, with one bird following close behind another, often in the fall and winter.

A flock of birds will travel together in the long-tailed formation through their territory to search for food. But one should not assume that they are only looking for food in the forests or secretly eating papayas and strawberries in the orchards on the forest fringes. Although they look beautiful, they are as omnivorous as the other members of the crow family. Sometimes one might bump into them near garbage piles or kitchens where there are buckets containing leftovers.

One might be surprised at the variety of food consumed by Formosan blue magpies as listed by researchers: wax apples, papayas, caterpillars, arachnids, rats, turtles, centipedes, and chicken' heads and feet discarded by humans--none of these are things they would not like.

As for their favorites, hard-to-catch reptiles like lizards and snakes and shrews of the Soricidae family are probably the most appetizing delicacies for them.

In regard to hunting for food, another kind of magpie, the yellow-billed chough (Pyrrhocorax graculus), is famous for its cleverness. It buries its food, such as pine nuts, in a public repository near its nesting place in autumn. When the next spring comes, other yellow-billed choughs that live in the same area can come to the repository for food. This particular behavior of the bird demonstrates a high degree of altruism.

Food-storing crows

Actually, the common raven (Corvus corax), a distant American relative of the Formosan blue magpie, also stores food for fear of hunger. Hungry common ravens are more apt to store food than other common ravens; even very young ravens stock up food. Therefore, some experts think that it is the birds' natural instinct to do so.

Does the Formosan blue magpie, also a member of the crow family, hoard food? The question surfaced in my mind as I was reading these foreign bird reports in the 1980s.

At that time, whenever food-storing birds were mentioned, Taiwan's ornithologists would often cite the brown shrike (Lanius cristatus) as an example. During the breeding season, brown shrikes like to hang their prey for some time on bare twigs or wire before eating or taking them to their nest to feed their young.

Later, as the number of bird watchers grew in Taiwan, more information was collected. Some people reported that they had seen Formosan blue magpies stuffing snakes into rock crevices or stowing fruits such as papayas in trees. In short, Formosan blue magpies stash away unfinished food or prey in suitable and widely distributed places.

Once, during the last week of the tung blossom season, I went with my friend, a mammal researcher, to Neikouli, Hsichih, Taipei County, to study the lake environment. While we were there, we came upon a Formosan blue magpie storing food. In the following diary entry, I recorded in detail the whole sighting process. Maybe it will help give a better idea of the perching and food-storing behavior of the Formosan blue magpie.

Encounter with beauty

"In the lake, there are not only paradise fish (Macropodus opercularis), but also field snails, which are rarely seen in the area. Yeh Wen-chi, an Odonata expert who works for the Taiwan Forestry Research Institute, once found a new Odonata species here. Fortunately, no traces of the golden apple snail (Pomacea canaliculata Lamarck) have been detected. But there have been reported sightings of red-eared sliders (Trachemys scripta elegans) and tilapias. There is also a group of Formosan blue magpies that regularly make their appearance here, so we would like to pay a visit to them.

"A pair of Himalayan tree pies (Dendrocitta formosae) flutters about in a tung tree. We begin to feel that we may very possibly see Formosan blue magpies. Just as expected, a short while later, we detect one moving on a lower branch. Then we see another.

"Originally, we thought we would have no more than a fleeting glimpse, but much to our surprise, a magpie suddenly flies slowly over our heads towards the lake. My goodness! This is the first time such a bird has ever flown so beautifully over our heads.

"We turn around and follow the bird in the direction it has headed. Then we see another magpie carrying food in its beak. The one that just flew over our heads must be an immature bird. It must have been lured by the food to fly so recklessly over our heads.

"When the immature bird has come to the side of the adult bird, it begins to flap its wings, asking for food. Then the two birds linger by the lake. I would venture to guess that the place must be a temporary hunting ground for the two birds. They will stay here for some time. A while later, another magpie flies first over the lake and then directly over our heads. Its rashness tells me it must also be an immature bird.

"Before long, we notice the immature bird standing on a tree branch, waiting. The adult bird is looking for food on a mound--we can see the end of its tail over the crest of the mound. Shortly, it seems to have found something. Holding the prey it has found, it flies over to the tree where the immature bird is perching, but does not offer the prey to the young bird.

"We observe with our telescopes. Upon seeing the prey's long, pointed snout, my friend, who is currently conducting research on small-sized mammals, immediately points out that it is a mammal. A closer look leads him to conclude that it is a member of the Soricidae family.

"Almost immediately, the adult bird stages the splendid performance that we have been looking forward to. Gripping the prey, it flies to a nearly perpendicular earth wall, puts the prey into a hole, and then covers the hole with dried leaves. In the end, it even tries to conceal it from sight with tung flower petals. After all its meticulous efforts, it still seems unable to rest assured. It lands on a place above the hole. We wait. The bird also waits. We seem to be competing with each other to see who has more patience.

"A few minutes later, it flies to a nearby branch, still seeming to keep its eyes on the hidden prey. Our curiosity gets the better of us. We want so much to find out what it has caught, so we move boldly towards the hole. The bird is still perched on the branch watching. My friend approaches the steep earth wall and tries hard to take the prey out of the hole. It is indeed a shrew.

"Having examined it, we replace the shrew and get ready to leave the lakeside. We hope the magpie is still able to enjoy its prey at ease. Later, when we come back to the lake after climbing Mount Tachienping, the magpie is moving about near the earth wall. After that, we hike to Eagle Gorge. When we come back, we see the bird moving about in the treetops. We take a look at the hole and find that the shrew is no longer there. The magpies must have eaten it."

Smart indigenous birds of Taiwan

Birds of the crow family have long been noted for their intelligence. Their long-tailed formation, nest-helper system, and food-storing behavior seem to prove that they are a more intelligent kind of bird among the 14 bird species native to Taiwan.

But it is not because of its special behavior that the Formosan blue magpie was identified as a species indigenous to Taiwan. Taiwan is an island that separated geologically from mainland China eons ago. In order to adapt to the new island environment and compete with other species, the Formosan blue magpie evolved, especially in terms of its body structure. The bird is therefore slightly different from other birds of the same genus. Structural differences have led bird taxonomists to classify the Formosan blue magpie as a new species peculiar to Taiwan.

There are noticeable differences between the Formosan blue magpie and other native Taiwanese birds. Whereas most native Taiwanese birds are small and populate high-elevation mountains, the large-sized Formosan blue magpie lives in low-elevation forests. The differences are intriguing when studied in the evolutionary context of Taiwanese birds. Ornithologists would find them well worth studying.

THE FORMOSAN BLUE MAGPIE

Scientific name: Urocissa caerulea Gould

Family: Corvidae

Distribution: A species endemic to Taiwan, the Formosan blue magpie lives in broadleaf and secondary forests at low and middle altitudes under 1500 meters in elevation.

Features and behavior: The Formosan blue magpie measures up to 65 centimeters in body length, with a wing length of 18 to 21 centimeters. Its beak and feet are red and its irises yellow. Its entire body is covered in sapphire blue plumage with the exception of its head, neck, breast, and the tips of its tail coverts, which are all black. The feathers on its lower abdomen are lighter in color, and there are white spots on the edges of its flight feathers. It has a tail as long as 40 centimeters; therefore, it is also called the "long-tailed mountain lass." Its twelve symmetrical tail feathers have white tints on their edges, with the two middle tail feathers longer than the rest.

The Formosan blue magpie lives in flocks and is often seen moving atop tall arbors or flying one after another in a straight line across valleys. It often produces calls that sound like "ga-jiang" when moving about. A fierce bird, it is very protective of its nestlings. The Formosan blue magpie has close-knit families. Older chicks that have become independent but have not yet reached breeding age will come home to help at the nest. They take care of their young siblings and protect them from predators. The bird is omnivorous. In addition to fruits and berries, it also eats amphibians, reptiles, and small-sized birds.