For so long I wanted to do a #featheredfriends post again, but wanted some new material... and finally got it! Not exactly what I wanted, but pretty close. And why? Because I was looking for a particular species: and I had you in mind during this quest, 
And why is that? Because you asked me about these cuties recently. Last weekend, was time to revisit Alentejo again! And although most of the birds I saw were sparrows...
... I know there are a few species way more coloured around these bushes. Don't get me wrong, I like all birds and sparrows can be quite photogenic too. As well as the crested larks, here posing for the camera.
Here, I almost got the one I was looking for.
But it was faster than me!
Any guesses about what was I searching?
Maybe
Luckily for me... they appeared in the open too!
Azure winged magpies!! Funny how they seem to be all over the place and it was so hard to get decent photos!!
One of the good things of writing these posts is the amount of stuff I learn or re-learn. Why did I called them azure winged magpies and wrote Iberian magpies? Because not that long ago, they were considered the same species! But recent genetic studies showed that the population in the Iberian peninsule is different, although they look the same; the azure winged magpies can be found in eastern Asia, faaaar away from the iberian population!
Only bad thing about this photo quest: I couldn't get that perfect photo!
In the pine trees there were a lot of juveniles, but they are similar to the adults.
So there you have it, our iberian azure winged magpie. The good news? I'll visit the area pretty soon again... so maybe I'll get lucky and get that perfect close up photo! Wish me luck!
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