#treepie

junicorn

day 19

Grey Treepie aka Himalayan Treepie (Dendrocitta formosae), family Corvidae, order Passeriformes, HP, India

Racket-tailed Treepie Crypsirina temia

This bird occurs in southern Myanmar, Thailand, Indo-China, Sumatra, Java and Bali in scrub and secondary growth, open fields and gardens, bamboo thickets and open forest often near villages. A cup shaped nest is built in bamboo or shrubs especially thorny ones often surrounded by open grassy areas and normally lays 2–4 eggs.

this is the collared treepie! treepies are one of the less popularly discussed types of family Corvidae (that's crows, jays, and similar loud smartypants), probably at least partially due to the fact that they're found in South & Southeast Asia. this fellow in particular composes two populations, one in a crescent-shaped swath from Bhutan to Myanmar (they don't like Bangladesh i guess? might be because they're outcompeted in more flat, lush terrain) and the other existing solely in northern Vietnam. they prefer moist forests and scrub, and are versatile enough to adapt to the series of dramatic mountains and valleys that make up their homeland.

from what i've seen of treepies, their earthy-toned plumage manages to be both excellent camouflage and very pretty! the shapes are so distinct… as is typical of corvids, they're raucous and social, often forming groups to forage. their diet is also a Corvidae staple - very generalistic, consuming insects, fruits, and other nutrient-dense foods. their feet are more specialized to perch than to walk, as they rarely land on the ground; the genus's name, Dendrocitta, translates to "tree magpie", though it's rather evidently not a magpie. when they do elect to walk, it seems a fairly awkward affair.

3 June 2026