Indian Treepie

About

The Indian Treepie is a long-tailed member of the crow family, known for its striking plumage, distinctive calls, and arboreal habits. It is a highly adaptable and intelligent bird, commonly found across the Indian subcontinent.

Size & lifespan

Length

46-50 cm (including tail of 28-30 cm)

Wingspan

30-35 cm

Weight

90-120 g

Lifespan

Approximately 8-12 years in the wild

Diet

Omnivore

Physical characteristics

Plumage

Adults have a sooty grey head and neck, contrasting with a rufous-brown body. The rump is greyish, and the underparts are rufous. The wings are black with a prominent white patch (carpal patch) visible in flight. The long, graduated tail is grey with a broad black tip. The upper tail coverts are whitish.

Beak shape

Stout, slightly hooked, and black.

Eye color

Dark brown.

Leg color

Dark grey to black.

Distinguishing features

Its exceptionally long, graduated tail with a black tip, the white wing patch, and the combination of sooty grey head and rufous body are key identifiers.

Juvenile appearance

Juveniles resemble adults but have a duller plumage, often with a brownish wash on the head and neck, and less distinct white wing patches. The tail may be slightly shorter and less sharply defined.

Seasonal changes

No significant seasonal plumage changes.

Sexual dimorphism

Males and females are monomorphic, appearing identical in plumage and size.

How to identify

1. 1

   Plumage Coloration

   Look for the distinctive combination of a sooty grey head and neck, rufous-brown body, and grey rump. The black wings with a prominent white patch are also key.

2. 2

   Tail

   Observe the exceptionally long, graduated grey tail with a broad black tip. This is one of its most striking features, especially in flight.

3. 3

   Vocalizations

   Listen for its varied and often musical calls, including the ringing 'ko-ki-la' notes and harsh 'kwaa-kwaa' calls. They are often heard before they are seen.

4. 4

   Behavior

   Watch for its agile movements in trees, hopping and climbing, and its bold, inquisitive nature. They often forage in pairs or small groups.

Habitat & range

Biomes

Forests, woodlands, scrublands, agricultural areas, gardens, and urban parks.

Geographic range

Indian subcontinent, including India, Pakistan, Nepal, Bangladesh, Myanmar, and parts of Thailand and Laos.

Elevation range

Primarily found in lowlands and foothills, up to approximately 1,200 meters (4,000 feet) above sea level.

Preferred environments

Open deciduous forests, mixed woodlands, groves of trees, plantations, and well-wooded suburban areas. They are often found near human habitation.

Behavior

Activity time

Diurnal.

Feeding habits

Highly opportunistic omnivores. Diet includes insects (grasshoppers, beetles, termites), fruits (especially figs), nectar, seeds, small reptiles, eggs and nestlings of other birds, and carrion. They forage both in trees and on the ground, often hopping and climbing agilely through branches. They are known to raid nests for eggs and young.

Social behavior

Typically seen in pairs or small family groups. They can be quite bold and inquisitive, especially around human settlements. They are known to mob predators and are generally quite vocal.

Flight pattern

Strong, undulating flight with deep wing beats. The long tail is prominent during flight, often fanned. They are agile flyers, especially when navigating through trees.

Migration pattern

Resident throughout its range; no significant migratory movements.

Territoriality

They are generally territorial, especially during the breeding season, defending their nesting sites and foraging areas.

Breeding & reproduction

Breeding season

Primarily March to July, but can vary regionally.

Nesting habits

Nests are typically shallow, cup-shaped structures made of twigs, roots, and sometimes lined with finer materials. They are usually placed high up in the canopy of a tree, often in a fork, well-concealed by foliage. Both sexes participate in nest building.

Clutch size

3-5 eggs.

Egg description

Typically 3-5 eggs. Eggs are pale greenish-white to creamy-white, often speckled or blotched with reddish-brown or purplish-grey, particularly at the broader end.

Incubation period

Approximately 16-18 days.

Fledging period

Chicks fledge around 21-28 days after hatching.

Parental care

Both parents share incubation duties and care for the young, bringing food to the nest and defending it from predators.

Where to find

Field tips

1. Listen for Calls. Their distinctive and loud calls often give away their presence before they are visually spotted. Learn to recognize their varied vocalizations.
2. Scan Tree Canopies. They spend a lot of time in the upper and middle canopy of trees, so scan the branches carefully. They can be quite camouflaged despite their size.
3. Look for Movement. Their agile movements as they hop and climb through branches, or their undulating flight, can draw attention.
4. Check Fruiting Trees. They are attracted to fruiting trees, especially figs, so these are good places to look for them.

Similar species

Quick facts

Family:

Corvidae (Crows, Jays, Magpies)

Diet:

Omnivorous

Habitat:

Woodlands, scrub, gardens, urban areas

Conservation Status:

Least Concern

Tail Length:

Very long, about 2/3 of total body length

Fun facts

• Indian Treepies are known for their intelligence and problem-solving abilities, characteristic of the crow family.
• They are excellent mimics and can incorporate calls of other birds into their repertoire.
• Despite their relatively large size, they are very agile and acrobatic when foraging in trees.
• They are often seen associating with other bird species, sometimes even joining mixed-species foraging flocks.

Scientific classification

Kingdom

Animalia

Phylum

Chordata

Class

Aves

Order

Passeriformes

Family

Corvidae

Genus

Dendrocitta

Species

Dendrocitta vagabunda

Explore the Indian Treepie