Corvidae
鸦科
yā kē

General

Information is based on dictionaries and other sources. Pinyin readings reflect standard Mandarin usage; for some dialect alternative names it may be of little practical use, especially for South China. Many Korean glosses are highly tentative. Comments and corrections welcome.

The Corvidae include several very familiar birds. The official Chinese common names for members of the Corvidae all use either the character 鸦 yā 'crow' or the character 鹊 què 'magpie'.

Crows: Typically, 鸦 yā is applied only to the corvids (crows and ravens). Spoken Chinese tends to prefer bisyllabic words, and the crows are no exception. In standard Chinese they are usually called 乌鸦 wū-yā 'black crow'. In more colloquial or less standardised usage, they are known as 老鸹 lǎo-guā in the north of China and 老鸦 lǎo-yā in the south. (However, lǎo-yā, using different characters, is more generally applied to a style of duck meat.)

In the written language, specific types of crow or raven just use 鸦 yā -- for example, the Jackdaw is known as 寒鸦 hán-yā 'cold crow'. Some official names of the crows use this literary form (e.g., 巨嘴鸦 jù-zuǐ yā 'giant-billed crow'); others use the spoken form (e.g., 小嘴乌鸦 xiǎo-zuǐ wū-yā 'small-billed crow').

Magpie: Pica pica is a very common bird known as 鹊 què in written Chinese, but more often called the 喜鹊 xǐ-què in the spoken language. The first character means 'happy' or 'auspicious'. The name is also written 喜雀 xǐ-què or 'auspicious sparrow'. In uncultivated usage, 乌鹊 wū-què 'crows and magpies' may be used for the magpie.

Jay: The jay (Eurasian jay) is known as 松鸦 sōng-yā 'pine crow'. The Japanese loanwords 橿鸟 jiāng-niǎo and 㭴鸟 jiān-niǎo may also be found. These loanwords still survive as they are found in many English-Chinese dictionaries as the translation for 'jay'.

Other relatively familiar birds include the 树鹊 shù-què 'tree magpie' (tree pies), 星鸦 xīng-yā 'star crow' (Nutcracker), and the 灰喜鹊 huī xǐ-què 'grey magpie' (Azure-winged Magpie).

Cultural:

In legend, the magpie plays a romantic role in the story of Altair (the Herd Boy) and Vega (the Weaving Girl), lovers separated by the Milky Way. On one day of the year, the seventh day of the seventh month, the magpies (generally written 喜雀 xǐ-què 'auspicious sparrow' in this context) fly up from the earth and form a bridge for the lovers to meet. This day, 七夕 qīxī, is the Chinese version of Valentine's Day.

Crows are regarded less favourably. Chinese has a number of expressions relating to crows, of varying degrees of currency:

天下的乌鸦一般黑 tiānxià de wūyā yībān hēi 'all crows in the world are black' -- Evil people are evil wherever you find them.

老鸹窝里出凤凰 lǎoguā wō-li chū fènghuáng 'a phoenix born in a crow's nest' -- A person of exceptional talent born in humble circumstances.

乌头白，马生角 wūtóu bái, mǎ shēng jiǎo 'a white crow's head, a horse grows horns' -- Something that is not possible.

乌鸦落在猪身上，只见人黑不见己黑 wūyā luò-zài zhū shēn-shang, zhǐ jiàn rén hēi bú jiàn jǐ hēi 'the crow alights on a pig's back: can only see other people are black, but unable to see that oneself is also black' -- Laughing at others when you yourself are no better.

The character 乌 wū is used as an adjective for black. 乌黑 wū-hēi means 'pitch black'.

In ancient Chinese legend, the sun was described as 金乌 jīn-wū 'golden crow'. Originally there were ten of these crows taking turns to cross the sky, but when all ten decided to come out at once, parching the land and crops, the heroic archer Houyi shot down nine of them.

Species names

SCIENTIFIC & ENGLISH		CHINESE			EAST		SOUTH	NORTH
Perisoreus
Latin	English	Chinese	Chinese (Taiwan)	Other Ch	Japanese	Korean	Vietnamese	Mongolian
Perisoreus infaustus	Siberian jay	北噪鸦 (北噪鴉) běi zào-yā 'northern noisy crow'			アカオカケス (赤尾懸巣 ~ 赤尾) aka-o kake-su 'red-tailed hang-nest'			Хөвчийн дуудууш ᠬᠦᠪᠴᠢ ᠵᠢᠨ ᠲᠠᠭᠣᠲᠠᠭᠠᠰᠢ khövchiŋ duuduush 'mountain-range duuduush'
Perisoreus internigrans	Sichuan jay Szechuan grey jay Black-headed jay	黑头噪鸦 (黑頭噪鴉) hēi-tóu zào-yā 'black-headed noisy crow'			ハイイロカケス (灰色懸巣 ~ 灰色) hai-iro kake-su 'grey hang-nest'
Garrulus
Latin	English	Chinese	Chinese (Taiwan)	Other Ch	Japanese	Korean	Vietnamese	Mongolian
Garrulus glandarius	Eurasian jay Jay	松鸦 (松鴉) sōng-yā 'pine crow'	(松鸦) 松鴉 sōng-yā 'pine crow'	橿鸟 (橿鳥) jiāng-niǎo 'oak bird' 㭴鸟 (樫鳥) jiān-niǎo 'oak bird' 塞皋 (塞皋) sāigāo 'saigao' 屋鸟 (屋鳥) wū-niǎo 'room/house bird' 山和尚 (山和尚) shān héshang 'mountain monk' (also used for the Hoopoe)	カケス (懸巣 ~ ) kake-su 'hang-nest'	어치 eochi 'jay'	Chim Quạ thông 'pine crow (bird)'	Цагчаа ятгашаазгай ?? ᠶᠠᠲᠣᠭ᠎ᠠ ᠱᠠᠭᠠᠵᠠᠭᠠᠢ tsagchaa yatag-shaazgai 'wake-up ? zither-magpie' Former official: Ятга шаазгай ᠶᠠᠲᠣᠭ᠎ᠠ ᠱᠠᠭᠠᠵᠠᠭᠠᠢ yatag shaazgai 'zither magpie' Other: Ит хэрээ ᠢᠲᠠ ᠬᠡᠷᠢᠶ᠎ᠠ it kheree 'it crow' (Inner Mongolia)
Cyanopica
Latin	English	Chinese	Chinese (Taiwan)	Other Ch	Japanese	Korean	Vietnamese	Mongolian
Cyanopica cyanus Cyanopica cyana	Azure-winged magpie	灰喜鹊 (灰喜鵲) huī xǐ-què 'grey magpie'		蓝膀鹊 (藍膀鵲) lán-bàng què 'blue-winged magpie' 蓝膀香鹊 (藍翅香鵲) lán-bǎng xiāng què 'blue-winged fragrant magpie' 山喜鹊 (山喜鵲) shān xǐ-què 'mountain-magpie' 蓝鹊 (藍鵲) lán-què 'blue-magpie' 长尾鹊 (長尾鵲) cháng-wěi què 'long-tailed magpie' 鸢喜鹊 (鳶喜鵲) yuān xǐ-què 'kite magpie' 长尾巴郎 (長尾巴郎) cháng-wěi bāláng 'long-tailed balang'	オナガ (尾長) o-naga 'long-tail'	물까치 mul-kkachi 'water magpie'	Ác là cánh lam 'blue-winged magpie' (Wikipedia)	Цэнхэр цанцаахай ᠴᠡᠩᠬᠡᠷ ᠴᠠᠨᠴᠠᠬᠠᠢ tseŋkher tsaŋtsaakhai 'lightblue magpie (variant)' Former official: Цэнхэр шаазгай ᠴᠡᠩᠬᠡᠷ ᠱᠠᠭᠠᠵᠠᠭᠠᠢ tseŋkher shaazgai 'lightblue-magpie'
Urocissa
Latin	English	Chinese	Chinese (Taiwan)	Other Ch	Japanese	Korean	Vietnamese	Mongolian
Urocissa flavirostris Cissa flavirostris	Yellow-billed blue magpie Gold-billed magpie	黄嘴蓝鹊 (黃嘴藍鵲) huáng-zuǐ lán-què 'yellow-billed blue-magpie'			キバシサンジャク (黄嘴山鵲) ki-bashi sanjaku 'yellow-billed mountain-magpie'		Chim Giẻ cùi mỏ vàng 'yellow-billed bluemagpie (bird)'
Urocissa erythrorhyncha Cissa erythrorhyncha	Red-billed blue magpie Blue magpie	红嘴蓝鹊 (紅嘴藍鵲) hóng-zuǐ lán-què 'red-billed blue-magpie'		长尾蓝鹊 (長尾藍鵲) cháng-wěi lán-què 'long-tailed blue-magpie' 云鹊 (雲鵲) yún-què 'cloud magpie' 山鹊 (山鵲) shān-què 'mountain-magpie' 红嘴山鹊 (紅嘴山鵲) hóng-zuǐ shān-què 'red-billed mountain-magpie' 长尾山鹊 (長尾山鵲) cháng-wěi shān-què 'long-tailed mountain-magpie' 赤尾山鸦 (赤尾山鵲) chì-wěi shān-yā 'red-tailed mountain crow' 山鹧 (山鷓) shān-zhè 'mountain pheasant' 红嘴兰鸦 (紅嘴蘭鴉) hóng-zuǐ lán-yā 'red-billed orchid crow' 尾巴练 (尾巴練) wěiba liàn 'tail lian'	サンジャク (山鵲) sanjaku 'mountain-magpie'		Chim Giẻ cùi 'bluemagpie (bird)'
Urocissa whiteheadi Cissa whiteheadi	White-winged magpie White-winged blue magpie Whitehead's blue magpie	白翅蓝鹊 (白翅藍鵲) bái-chì lán-què 'white-winged blue-magpie'		灰蓝鹊 (灰藍鵲) huī lán-què 'grey blue-magpie' (6)	ハジロサンジャク (羽白山鵲) ha-jiro sanjaku 'white-winged mountain-magpie'		Chim Giẻ cùi vàng 'yellow bluemagpie (bird)'
Cissa
Latin	English	Chinese	Chinese (Taiwan)	Other Ch	Japanese	Korean	Vietnamese	Mongolian
Cissa chinensis	Common green magpie or Green magpie	蓝绿鹊 (藍綠鵲) lán lǜ-què 'blue green magpie'			ヘキサン (碧鵲) hekisan 'green-magpie'		Chim Giẻ cùi xanh 'blue/green bluemagpie (bird)'
Cissa hypoleuca	indochinese green magpie Yellow-breasted magpie Yellow-breasted green magpie Eastern green magpie	黄胸绿鹊 (紅胸綠鵲) huáng-xiōng lǜ-què 'yellow-breasted green magpie' (2, 4) 印支绿鹊 (印支綠鵲) yìn-zhī lǜ-què 'indochinese green magpie' (3)			シナシヘキサン (シナシ碧鵲) shinashi hekisan 'China? green-magpie'		Chim Giẻ cùi bụng vàng 'yellow-bellied bluemagpie (bird)'
Dendrocitta
Latin	English	Chinese	Chinese (Taiwan)	Other Ch	Japanese	Korean	Vietnamese	Mongolian
Dendrocitta vagabunda Crypsirina vagabunda	Rufous treepie Indian tree pie	棕腹树鹊 (棕腹樹鵲) zōng-fù shù-què 'reddishbrown-bellied tree magpie'			チャイロオナガ (茶色尾長) cha-iro o-naga 'grey long-tail'		Chim Choàng choạc hung 'reddish treepie (bird)'
Dendrocitta formosae Crypsirina formosae	Grey treepie Himalayan tree pie	灰树鹊 (灰樹鵲) huī shù-què 'grey tree magpie'	(树鹊) 樹鵲 shù-què 'tree magpie'		タイワンオナガ (台湾尾長) taiwan o-naga 'Taiwan long-tail'		Chim Choàng choạc xám 'grey treepie (bird)'
Dendrocitta frontalis Crypsirina frontalis	Collared treepie Black-browed tree pie Black-foreheaded tree pie	黑额树鹊 (黑額樹鵲) hēi-é shù-què 'black-foreheaded tree magpie'			カオグロオナガ (顔黒尾長) kao-guro o-naga 'black-faced long-tail'		Chim Choàng choạc đầu đen 'black-headed treepie (bird)'
Temnurus
Latin	English	Chinese	Chinese (Taiwan)	Other Ch	Japanese	Korean	Vietnamese	Mongolian
Temnurus temnurus Crypsirina temnura	Ratchet-tailed treepie Notch-tailed tree pie	塔尾树鹊 (塔尾樹鵲) tǎ-wěi shù-què 'tower-tailed tree magpie'		盘尾树鹊 (盤尾樹鵲) pán-wěi shù-què 'plate-tailed tree magpie' (6) (conflicts with C. temia above)	キリオオナガ (切り尾尾長) kiri-o o-naga 'cut-tail long-tail'		Chim khách đuôi cờ 'flag-tailed khach bird' (onomat.)
Pica
Latin	English	Chinese	Chinese (Taiwan)	Other Ch	Japanese	Korean	Vietnamese	Mongolian
Pica pica	Common magpie Black-billed magpie Magpie	喜鹊 (喜鵲) xǐ-què 'magpie'	(喜鹊) 喜鵲 xǐ-què 'magpie'	喜雀 (喜雀) xǐ-què 'auspicious sparrow' (written variation, pronunciation the same) 干鹊 (乾鵲) gān què 'dry magpie' 神女 (神女) shén-nǚ 'goddess' 野鹊子 (野鵲子) yě quèzi 'wild magpie'	カササギ (鵲) kasasagi 'magpie'	까치 kkachi 'magpie'	Chim Ác là 'ác là (bird)' (ác = 'crow') or Chim Bồ các 'bồ các (bird)'	Алаг шаазгай ᠠᠯᠠᠭ ᠱᠠᠭᠠᠵᠠᠭᠠᠢ alag shaazgai 'motley magpie' Former official: Шаазгай ᠱᠠᠭᠠᠵᠠᠭᠠᠢ shaazgai 'magpie'
Podoces
Latin	English	Chinese	Chinese (Taiwan)	Other Ch	Japanese	Korean	Vietnamese	Mongolian
Podoces hendersoni	Mongolian Ground-jay Henderson's ground jay Black-tailed ground jay Henderson's ground chough	黑尾地鸦 (黑尾地鴉) hēi-wěi dì-yā 'black-tailed ground-crow'			ハシナガサバクガラス (嘴長砂漠烏 ~ 嘴長砂漠鴉) hashi-naga sabaku-garasu 'long-billed desert-crow'			Монгол хуланжороо ᠮᠣᠩᠭᠣᠯ ᠬᠣᠯᠠᠨ ᠵᠢᠷᠣᠭ᠎ᠠ moŋgol khulaŋ-joroo 'Mongolian wild-horse ambler' Former official: Хулан жороо ᠬᠣᠯᠠᠨ ᠵᠢᠷᠣᠭ᠎ᠠ khulaŋ joroo 'wild-horse ambler'
Podoces biddulphi	Xinjiang ground-jay Biddulph's ground jay White-tailed ground jay White-tailed ground chough	白尾地鸦 (白尾地鴉) bái-wěi dì-yā 'white-tailed ground-crow'			オジロサバクガラス (尾白砂漠烏 ~ 尾白砂漠鴉) o-jiro sabaku-garasu 'white-tailed desert-crow'
Pseudopodoces
Latin	English	Chinese	Chinese (Taiwan)	Other Ch	Japanese	Korean	Vietnamese	Mongolian
Pseudopodoces humilis Taxonomy	Hume's groundpecker Tibetan ground-jay Hume's ground chough Brown ground chough Hume's ground pecker	褐背拟地鸦 (褐背擬地鴉) hè-bèi nǐ-dì-yā 'brown-backed pseudo ground-crow'			ヒメサバクガラス (姫砂漠烏 ~ 姫砂漠鴉) hime sabaku-garasu 'princess desert-crow'
Nucifraga
Latin	English	Chinese	Chinese (Taiwan)	Other Ch	Japanese	Korean	Vietnamese	Mongolian
Nucifraga caryocatactes	Eurasian nutcracker Spotted nutcracker Nutcracker	星鸦 (星鴉) xīng yā 'starred crow'	(星鸦) 星鴉 xīng yā 'starred crow'		ホシガラス (星烏 ~ 星鴉) hoshi garasu 'starred crow'	잣까마귀 jat-kkamagwi 'pine-nut crow'		Бидэрт самарчшаазгай ᠪᠢᠲᠡᠷᠲᠣ ᠰᠠᠮᠣᠷᠴᠢ ᠱᠠᠭᠠᠵᠠᠭᠠᠢ bidert samarch-shaazgai 'spotted nutting-magpie' Former official: Самарч шаазгай ᠰᠠᠮᠣᠷᠴᠢ ᠱᠠᠭᠠᠵᠠᠭᠠᠢ samarch shaazgai 'nutting magpie'
Pyrrhocorax
Latin	English	Chinese	Chinese (Taiwan)	Other Ch	Japanese	Korean	Vietnamese	Mongolian
Pyrrhocorax pyrrhocorax	Red-billed chough	红嘴山鸦 (紅嘴山鴉) hóng-zuǐ shān-yā 'red-billed mountain crow'			ベニバシガラス (紅嘴烏 ~ 紅嘴鴉) beni-bashi garasu 'red-billed crow'	붉은부리까마귀 bulgeun-buri-kkamagwi 'red-billed crow'		Улаанхушуут жунгаа ᠣᠯᠠᠭᠠᠨ ᠬᠣᠰᠢᠭᠣᠲᠣ ᠵᠣᠩᠭ᠎ᠠ ulaaŋ-khushuut juŋgaa 'red-billed chough' Former official: Улаан хушуут ᠣᠯᠠᠭᠠᠨ ᠬᠣᠰᠢᠭᠣᠲᠣ ulaaŋ khushuut 'red bill'
Pyrrhocorax graculus	Yellow-billed chough or Alpine chough	黄嘴山鸦 (黃嘴山鴉) huáng-zuǐ shān-yā 'yellow-billed mountain crow'			キバシガラス (黄嘴烏 ~ 黄嘴鴉) ki-bashi garasu 'yellow-billed crow'
Corvus
Latin	English	Chinese	Chinese (Taiwan)	Other Ch	Japanese	Korean	Vietnamese	Mongolian
Corvus monedula	Eurasian jackdaw Jackdaw	寒鸦 (寒鴉) hán-yā 'cold crow'			ニシコクマルガラス (西黒丸烏 ~ 西黒丸鴉) nishi koku-maru garasu 'western black circle crow'		Quạ gáy xám 'grey naped crow' (Wikipedia)	Харлаг хэрээ ᠬᠠᠷᠠᠯᠠᠭ ᠬᠡᠷᠢᠶ᠎ᠠ kharlag kheree 'black-patterned crow' Former official: Хар алагтуу ᠬᠠᠷ᠎ᠠ ᠠᠯᠠᠭ ᠲᠠᠭᠣ khar alagtuu 'black motley jackdaw'
Corvus dauuricus	Daurian jackdaw	达乌里寒鸦 (達烏里寒鴉) dáwūlǐ hán-yā 'Daurian cold crow'	(东方寒鸦) 東方寒鴉 dōngfāng hán-yā 'eastern cold crow' Former official name: (寒鸦) 寒鴉 hán-yā 'cold crow'	慈鸟 (慈烏) cí wū 'kind crow ' (also used for Corvus dauuricus) 小山老鸹 (小山老鴰) xiǎo shān lǎo-guā 'small mountain crow' (also used for Corvus dauuricus) 孝鸦 (孝鴉) xiào yā 'filial crow'	コクマルガラス (黒丸烏 ~ 黒丸鴉) koku-maru garasu 'black circle crow'	갈까마귀 gal-kkamagwi 'autumn ? crow'		Алагтуу хэрээ ᠠᠯᠠᠭ ᠲᠠᠭᠣ ᠬᠡᠷᠢᠶ᠎ᠠ alagtuu kheree 'motley jackdaw crow' Former official: Алагтуу ᠠᠯᠠᠭ ᠲᠠᠭᠣ alagtuu alagtuu 'motley jackdaw' Other: Таага ᠲᠠᠭᠣ taag 'taag' (Inner Mongolia) Алаг таага ᠠᠯᠠᠭ ᠲᠠᠭᠣ alag taag 'motley taag' (Inner Mongolia) Алаг хонг ᠠᠯᠠᠭ ᠬᠣᠩ alag khoŋg 'motley raven' (Inner Mongolia)
Corvus splendens	House crow	家鸦 (家鴉) jiā-yā 'house crow'			イエガラス (家烏 ~ 家鴉) ie-garasu 'house crow'
Corvus frugilegus	Rook	秃鼻乌鸦 (禿鼻烏鴉) tū bí wū-yā 'bald-nosed crow'	(秃鼻鸦) 禿鼻鴉 tū bí yā 'bald-nosed crow'		ミヤマガラス (深山烏 ~ 深山鴉) mi-yama garasu 'deep mountain crow'	떼까마귀 tte-kkamagwi 'flock ? crow'	Quạ đen mũi trọc 'shaven-nosed black crow' (Wikipedia)	Турлиах хэрээ ᠲᠣᠷᠯᠢᠶᠠᠬ᠎ᠠ ᠬᠡᠷᠢᠶ᠎ᠠ turliakh kheree 'rook crow' Former official: Турлиах ᠲᠣᠷᠯᠢᠶᠠᠬ᠎ᠠ turliakh 'rook'
Corvus corone	Carrion crow	小嘴乌鸦 (小嘴烏鴉) xiǎo-zuǐ wū-yā 'small-billed crow' Taxonomy	(小嘴乌鸦) 小嘴烏鴉 xiǎo-zuǐ wū-yā 'small-billed crow'	食腐肉乌鸦 (食腐肉烏鴉) shí fǔròu wū-yā 'eat-carrion crow'	ハシボソガラス (嘴細烏 ~ 嘴細鴉) hashi-boso garasu 'slender-billed crow'	까마귀 kkamagwi 'crow'	Chim Quạ mỏ nhỏ 'small-billed crow (bird)' Chim Quạ đen mỏ bé 'small-billed black crow (bird)' (13)	Хар хэрээ ᠬᠠᠷ᠎ᠠ ᠬᠡᠷᠢᠶ᠎ᠠ khar kheree 'black crow' Taxonomy Other: Хар таага ᠬᠠᠷ᠎ᠠ ᠲᠠᠭᠣ khar taag 'black taag' (Inner Mongolia)
Latin	English	Chinese	Chinese (Taiwan)	Other Ch	Japanese	Korean	Vietnamese	Mongolian
Corvus pectoralis Corvus torquatus	Collared crow	白颈鸦 (白頸鴉) bái-jǐng yā 'white-necked crow'	(玉颈鸦) 玉頸鴉 yù jǐng yā 'jade-necked crow'	白脖老鸹 (白脖老鴰) bái-bó lǎo-guā 'white-throated crow'	クビワガラス (首輪烏) kubi-wa garasu 'neck-ringed crow'		Chim Quạ khoang 'spotted crow (bird)'
Corvus macrorhynchos	Large-billed crow or Jungle crow Thick-billed crow	大嘴乌鸦 (大嘴烏鴉) dà zuǐ wū-yā 'large-billed crow'	(巨嘴鸦) 巨嘴鸦 jù-zuǐ yā 'giant-billed crow'		ハシブトガラス (嘴太烏 ~ 嘴太鴉) hashi-buto garasu 'thick-billed crow'	큰부리까마귀 keun-buri-kkamagwi 'large-billed crow'	Chim Quạ đen 'black crow (bird)'
Corvus corax	Common raven Raven	渡鸦 (渡鴉) dù yā 'passage crow'			ワタリガラス (渡り烏 ~ 渡り鴉) watari-garasu 'passage crow'	큰까마귀 keun-kkamagwi 'large crow'		Хон хэрээ ᠬᠣᠩ ᠬᠡᠷᠢᠶ᠎ᠠ khoŋ kheree 'cawing crow' Former official: Хон хэрээ ᠬᠣᠩ ᠬᠡᠷᠢᠶ᠎ᠠ khoŋ kheree 'cawing crow' Other: Хонг ᠬᠣᠩ khoŋg 'raven' (onomat.) (Inner Mongolia)