Scientific name: Cyanopica cyanus (Pallas 1776)
Bird group: Jays and Magpies
Field characters. 35 cm. Easy to recognise by black head, white throat, pale blue wings with pinkish grey scapulars and pale blue tail. Remainder of upperparts rufous-grey, underparts pinkish grey. Often seen in small, rather noisy groups.
Voice. Common call is a stretched "zhreeeeh", which rises in inflection; also a bisyllabic "kee-oh", a crow-like "kow" and shrill, liquid notes.
Distribution. Locally a fairy common resident.
Habitat. Nests in coniferous and deciduous trees; forages in gardens, olive groves and open oak woods.
Food. Omnivorous; pine seeds, fruits, berries, insects, worms, and small mammals and lizards.