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Azure-winged magpie in SpainThe elegant Azure-winged Magpie (Cyanopica cyanus or Cyanopica cyana) has an intriguing world distribution. Until recently some believed that there were two population groups of the same species separated by thousands of miles; one in south western Iberia and the other in Asia . It was said that Portuguese sailors had brought the bird back from Asia during the 15th century. However, the discovery of a 40,000-year-old fossil of the species in Gibraltar in 2000 has finally laid to rest the idea, and proving the established opinion that the bird has been around here for very much longer. Recent genetic evidence points to two separate species, one European and one Asian. The two populations may have been separated by the onset of the Quaternary ices, much like the populations of Iberian Lynx and Iberian Imperial Eagle. As it grew colder the European populations of Azure-winged Magpies would have been pushed into and trapped in Iberia. See 'Origin of Iberian Lynx and Iberian Imperial Eagle'.
Photo kindly provided by Stephen Daly of http://www.andalucianguides.com As can be seen from the distribution map, the Azure-winged Magpie is restricted to South-Eastern Spain (and Portugal which is not covered by map)
Source: Enciclopedia virtual de los vertebrados españoles The Azure-winged Magpie in Spain is currently estimated at around 200,000-250,000 pairs. Despite future climate threats, the species is probably expanding slightly. The Azure-winged Magpie has been cited as one of the birds most threatened in Europe by potential and coming climate change, as it could lose up to 95% of its current ideal habitat of dehesa cork wood and holm oak forest. See BBC Climate threat: What species are at risk? Translation: Azure-winged magpie : rabilargo; Garsa blava (Cat.) (Cyanopica cyanus)
See also News on Iberian Lynx - News on Birds in Spain - News on Bears in Spain - Wolves in Spain alpine accentor - alpine swift - aquatic warbler - arctic skua -arctic tern - Atlantic puffin - Audouin's gull - avocet - azure-winged magpie keywords : iberian azure-winged magpie, azure-winged magpie Facts, facts about azure-winged magpie, spanish azure-winged magpie, spain azure-winged magpie, Spain azure-winged magpie in captivity, doñana azure-winged magpie, azure-winged magpie distribution in spain, azure-winged magpie population in spain, geography of azure-winged magpie , environment of azure-winged magpie, ecology of azure-winged magpie, azure-winged magpie conservation, mediterrenean azure-winged magpie, azure-winged magpie rabbit, iberian doñana azure-winged magpie, azure-winged magpie diet, azure-winged magpie distribution, azure-winged magpie population, geography of azure-winged magpie , environment of azure-winged magpie, ecology of azure-winged magpie, azure-winged magpie conservation, azure-winged magpie mediterrenean, spanish azure-winged magpie facts, azure-winged magpie Miguel Delibes, spanish azure-winged magpie photos, pictures of spanish azure-winged magpie, pictures of azure-winged magpie, azure-winged magpie predator, azure-winged magpie iberia, iberia azure-winged magpie, azure-winged magpie extinction in spain, extinction of azure-winged magpie, azure-winged magpie extinction, extinction of azure-winged magpie, information about azure-winged magpie, andujar azure-winged magpie, azure-winged magpie geography, azure-winged magpie environment, azure-winged magpie ecology, azure-winged magpie conservation, azure-winged magpie mediterrenean, photos of spanish azure-winged magpie, photos of azure-winged magpie in Spain, birdwatching azure-winged magpie in Andújar
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