Critically Endangered
Javan Green Magpie
Cissa thalassina
The Javan green magpie is a passerine bird in the crow family, Corvidae, endemic to montane forests on the island of Western Java, Indonesia.
Appearance
The Javan green magpie has a green crown and underparts, with a black "mask" marking around the dark brown eyes, russet wings and white tertiary feathers. The Javan green magpie is a passerine bird in the crow family, Corvidae, endemic to montane forests on the island of Western Java, Indonesia. In an attempt at saving the species, the Javan green magpie has been part of a captive breeding program since 2011.
Its body is 31–33 cm (12–13 in) long, and it has a 97–110 mm (3.8–4.3 in) short, bluntly graduated tail.
Published measurements include mass about 125.
Range and habitat
The Javan green magpie is restricted to a small range in western Java, where it has been recorded in Mount Merapi National Park, Mount Halimun Salak National Park, Mount Gede Pangrango National Park and South Parahyangan Practice Forest and Nature Reserve. While the bird prefers higher altitudes, it is occasionally seen in lower land areas and at the edges of forests. This critically endangered species was once more widespread, but it has suffered significant population declines due to habitat loss and illegal capture for the wild animal trade.
Pins are Wikidata “endemic to” fields. Orange dots, when present, are GBIF occurrence tiles — survey bias included.
Diet and breeding
During the breeding season, the bird has been observed feeding on small vertebrates, such as lizards, smaller birds, eggs, frogs, and even snakes. This diverse diet supports the bird's energetic lifestyle and is particularly important during the breeding period.
The breeding habits of the Javan green magpie are still not fully understood, but it is thought to breed throughout much of the year, particularly during the rainy season. A captive breeding program based on confiscated individuals has been initiated by the Cikananga Wildlife Center in Java and a few European EAZA zoos starting in 2015.
In crisis
Once common, it is now found in only four protected areas, with estimates of the remaining wild population being as low as 50 individuals. While others speculate that the lack of recent sightings might mean that it already is extinct in the wild. It has successfully bred at both the Javan and European facilities, and as of 2018 this captive population had reached about 50 individuals.
This illegal trade has contributed to a severe population decline. Efforts to breed the species in captivity, as well as habitat protection, are key to maintaining the Javan green magpie population and preventing further declines.
Javan Green Magpie is Critically Endangered on this catalog because that is the IUCN category stored on Wikidata. Confirm the official criteria and any later count on iucnredlist.org.
Sources
Written for this catalog from the English Wikipedia article on Javan Green Magpie, Wikidata item Q1105350. Family and order context is original field-guide writing about the group, not a copied assessment of this one species. Wikipedia text is CC BY-SA. Not an IUCN assessment. Counts, when quoted, can change — confirm them on the recovery programme and on iucnredlist.org.
