Cissa (genus)

Cissa
Cissa chinensis (with heavily worn tail) at the National Zoo.
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Aves
Order:	Passeriformes
Family:	Corvidae
Genus:	Cissa Boie, 1826
Species
Cissa chinensis Cissa hypoleuca Cissa thalassina

Cissa is a genus of relatively short-tailed magpies, though sometimes known as hunting cissas, that reside in the forests of tropical and subtropical southeast Asia and adjacent regions. The three species are quite similar with bright red bills, a mainly green plumage, black mask, and rufous wings. Due to excess exposure to sunlight (and, possibly, a low-carotenoid diet), they often appear rather turquoise (instead of green) in captivity. They are carnivorous, and mainly feed on arthropods and small vertebrates.

Species

• Green Magpie (Cissa chinensis)
• Yellow-breasted Magpie (Cissa hypoleuca)
• Short-tailed Magpie (Cissa thalassina)