The Bornean black magpie (Platysmurus aterrimus), also known as the black crested magpie, is a treepie in the family Corvidae. It is endemic to the Southeast Asian island of Borneo.[1]
The Bornean black magpie was formerly considered a distinctive subspecies of the black magpie, but more recent revisions now consider it a full species, Platysmurus aterrimus.[1][2]
The magpie is about 43 cm in length.[3] It has all-black plumage with a long, broad and graduated tail, a stout black bill, a tall, bristly crest, black legs and feet, and red irises. It has a taller crest than, and lacks the white wing patch of, the nominate subspecies.[4]
The magpie is a garrulous and sociable bird, often seen in family parties. It has a variety of whistling and chattering calls and is also a vocal mimic. It flies with shallow wing beats that produce a distinctive low throbbing whooorboobooboo sound.[4][1]
A nest found in the Tabin Wildlife Reserve in September 1981 was described as being about 20 cm across, built of sticks and sited 8 m up in a small tree.[3]
^ abcPhillipps, Quentin; Phillipps, Karen (2011). Phillipps' Field Guide to the Birds of Borneo. Oxford, UK: John Beaufoy Publishing. ISBN978-1-906780-56-2.
^ abcdSmythies, Bertram E.; Davison, Geoffrey W.H. (1999). The Birds of Borneo. Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, Malaysia: Natural History Publications (Borneo) and the Sabah Society. pp. 630–631. ISBN983-812-028-6.
