In Europe this bird is found only in southern Iberia. The next nearest population is China and it is found further east to Japan and Korea. Because of this disjunct range it has long been supposed that the Iberian population originated from birds brought back by Portugese sailors in the 15th century. Recently however bones of this species dating back 44,000 years have been found in Gibraltar and the range is subject to further examination.
First thought to be a colony of an almost identical Asian species, the [Azure-winged Magpie], and it was assumed it had been brought on a ship. But DNA evidence has shown they are distinct species, with the Iberian being a bit smaller and with a shorter tail.
Africa (entire continent rather than south of Sahara)
AN
Antarctica
AO
Atlantic Ocean
AU
Australasia (Wallacea (Indonesian islands east of Wallace's line), New Guinea and its islands, Australia, New Zealand and its subantarctic islands, the Solomons, New Caledonia, and Vanuatu)
PAL
Eurasia (Europe, Asia from the Middle East through central Asia north of the Himalayas, Siberia and northern China to Japan)
IO
Indian Ocean
LA
Latin America (Middle and South America)
MA
Middle America (Mexico through Panama)
NA
North America (includes the Caribbean)
NO
Northern oceans
OR
Oriental Region (South Asia from Pakistan to Taiwan, plus Southeast Asia, the Philippines, and Greater Sundas)
