Urocissa caerulea - The Taiwan blue magpie is a member of the crow family and is endemic to the higher elevations of Taiwan. It grows to about 60 centimeters and has a long tail for an added 40 centimeters of length. Male and female are similar in size and plumage. Both parents share in nest building duties and caring for the chicks, but the incubating is left solely to the female. The blue magpie defends its nest vigorously against any intruders, a trait common to magpies and crows.
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Taiwan was part of the Asian mainland during the late Pleistocene epoch. Sea levels began to rise approximately 10,000 years ago and Taiwan became an island. The Austronesians began settling Taiwan about 8,000 years ago and remained in relative isolation. In 1624, the Dutch East India Company established a trading settlement on the Taiwanese main island at Anping. The Spanish also had concessions in Northern Taiwan, but it was the Chinese who eventually dominated the island.
