The Majestic Beauty of the Ancient Forest’s “Ghost”: Indochinese Green Magpie (Cissa hypoleuca)

Closing out 2025 with an emotional journey along the route from Mã Đà forest (Đồng Nai) to the Di Linh plateau (Lâm Đồng), my lens was fortunate to cross paths with one of the most vibrant yet elusive “beauties” of the deep forest: The Indochinese Green Magpie.

The bird in the photo is the Indochinese Green Magpie, scientifically known as Cissa hypoleuca (English name: Indochinese Green Magpie). This is a resident species endemic to the Indochina region, typically hiding beneath dense forest canopies and extremely shy of humans, making capturing such a still and sharp moment a grand reward for any photographer.

The most distinctive feature setting this species apart from its cousin, the Common Green Magpie, is its brilliant lemon-yellow belly, which contrasts sharply with its yellowish-green wing feathers and bright red bill and legs. The black eye-stripe acting like a “mask” further enhances their mysterious and haughty appearance.

The shutter click this past December not only captured the beauty of nature but also encapsulated the photographer’s emotions in the face of the diversity and wonder of Vietnam’s forest ecosystem.

Vietnamese Name: Giẻ cùi bụng vàng

Scientific Name: Cissa hypoleuca

Identification Features: Yellow belly, green back, red bill and legs, black eye-stripe.

Location: Mã Đà (Đồng Nai) / Di Linh (Lâm Đồng) – December 2025.