NATURAL HISTORY · CATALOGUE RECORD
Asir Magpie
Pica asirensis G. L. Bates, 1936
Source-backed taxonomic record
Accepted species in Catalogue of Life’s 11 September 2026 base release. This preserves the source classification and available supporting data; it is not a completed species monograph.
Open encyclopedia reference
The Asir magpie (Pica asirensis), also known as the Arabian magpie, is a highly endangered species of magpie endemic to Saudi Arabia. It is only found in the country's southwestern highlands, in the Asir Mountains. It occurs only in African juniper forest in well-vegetated wadis and valleys. It was originally described as a subspecies of the Eurasian magpie as Pica pica asirensis, and still is by some authorities. This species is highly threatened by habitat destruction, as its native forests are not regenerating. Tourism development and climate change are also posing a threat. Only 135 pairs (270 mature individuals) are known to survive in the wild, and this number is declining.
A molecular phylogenetic study published in 2018 found that the Asir magpie was a sister taxon to the black-rumped magpie of the Tibetan Plateau, with which it also shares a black rump, unlike the other Pica magpies.
Wikipedia contributors, Asir magpie; see linked history · CC BY-SA 4.0 . Plain-text lead excerpt, at most 180 words; no infobox or later sections Retrieved 2026-10-05T02:17:18.597040+00:00. This reference remains separate from the taxonomic record.
Identity & source status
- Scientific name
- Pica asirensis G. L. Bates, 1936
- Name authority
- G. L. Bates, 1936
- Common name
- Asir Magpie
- Rank
- species
- Accepted status
- accepted
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Chordata
- Class
- Aves
- Order
- Passeriformes
- Family
- Corvidae
- Genus
- Pica
- Extinction status
- Recorded extant
Classification family tree
Nested taxonomic groups from the source. This is not a direct-ancestor chain, a dated evolutionary tree or a phylogenetic reconstruction.
- domainEukaryota (Chatton, 1925) Whittaker & Margulis, 1978
- kingdomAnimalia
- phylumChordata
- subphylumVertebrata
- infraphylumGnathostomata
- parvphylumOsteichthyes
- megaclassTetrapoda
- classAves
- orderPasseriformes
- familyCorvidae Leach, 1820
- genusPica Brisson, 1760
- speciesPica asirensis G. L. Bates, 1936
Close classified relatives
These entries share the source’s genus, Pica. They are not necessarily the closest relatives established by molecular evidence.
| Species | Classification | Source status |
|---|---|---|
| Black-billed MagpiePica hudsonia (Sabine, 1823) | CorvidaeChordata | Accepted speciesRecorded extant |
| Yellow-billed MagpiePica nutallii (Audubon, 1837) | CorvidaeChordata | Accepted speciesRecorded extant |
| Oriental MagpiePica serica Gould, 1845 | CorvidaeChordata | Accepted speciesRecorded extant |
| Eurasian MagpiePica pica (Linnaeus, 1758) | CorvidaeChordata | Accepted speciesRecorded extant |
Names & synonyms
Names explicitly linked to this accepted taxon in the source. Synonymy can change with revision.
| Recorded name | Source status |
|---|---|
| Pica pica asirensis G. L. Bates, 1936 G. L. Bates, 1936 | synonym |
Documented distribution
Source distribution statements, not a complete range map. A listed locality is not necessarily a place of origin.
Source literature & publication evidence
References attached to this source record, including nomenclatural citations where supplied. This is a selected bibliography; abbreviated citations remain in the source’s form.
- https://www.itis.gov/servlet/SingleRpt/SingleRpt?search_topic=TSN&search_value=1276015 Source fields: Taxon.tsv dwc:namePublishedIn, Taxon.tsv dcterms:references
Origins, evidence & remaining research
Name authority and publication references document nomenclature where the source supplies it. They do not establish evolutionary origins or the earliest fossil occurrence.
Specimen-level evidence, morphology, ecological research, phylogenetic studies, a comprehensive bibliography and a located literary passage have not yet been compiled for this record. A suitable sourced image remains to be added.
Dataset citation & attribution
This exact taxon in ChecklistBank · Catalogue of Life 2026-09-11
Catalogue of Life 2026-09-11; dataset 316321; doi:10.48580/dgz5n. https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ . Retrieved 5 October 2026.
Stable key: col:S5WHY. Classification follows source parent identifiers. English common names may vary by region.