Taiwan Blue Magpie (Urocissa caerulea)

These birds are usually seen in groups of three to eight, though, sometimes can appear in flocks scaling up to twenty. Within the family unit, they are very cooperative, and the chicks that have not yet become old enough to breed will help with their younger siblings by feeding and protecting them. Chicks as young as two months have been observed in these "big brother" activities, and because of this help, the adults will have a second chance at nesting during the same year. Taiwan Blue Magpies breed from March to July. The mated pair are monogamous, and the female will lay five to eight eggs in a nest made of twigs, of which three to seven of the eggs will hatch. Despite that they are known to come close to human settlements, they are suspicious and hard to approach.