Corvidae
Họ Quạ

General

The following is based on analysis of dictionaries and other sources. Comments and corrections welcome. Malaysian names are now being updated. For consistency, Vietnamese bird names (except for ducks and chickens) are preceded by the word Chim meaning 'bird'. Ornithological lists mostly omit this as understood. Hover over Green Lettering Green lettering at this site hides a tool tip with glosses, further explanations, etc. Hover cursor to reveal. to see additional information.

Crows, jays, treepies, and coloured magpies (green and blue) are a familiar part of Vietnam's avifauna. While Vietnam is situated in Southeast Asia, its traditional cultural centre was in the north of the country. Vietnam was subject to heavy influence from China, which is also culturally centred far to the north. This is one reason why the Eurasian Magpie (Pica pica) has a variety of names in Vietnamese, despite the fact that it mainly occurs in the north.

1. The normal Vietnamese word for 'crow' is Quạ.

The Eurasian Jay is known as Quạ thông 'pine crow', a semantic borrowing from the Chinese. In fact, thông is borrowed from the Chinese word 松 sōng 'pine'.

2. Ác is an archaic or dialect term for 'crow', glossed in the tables as 'crow₁'. There is also the older name Ô related to Chinese 烏 wū.

Ác is featured in many of the variant names for the Magpie (Pica pica). These include:

a) A collection of onomatopoeic names, most with a clear connection to the crows, including Ác là, Ắc cắc and Ác xắc. Bồ các is another common name belonging to this group.

b) Borrowings from Chinese, including Hỉ thước from Chinese 喜鵲 xǐ-què and Ô thước from Chinese 烏鵲 wū-què 'crow magpie' or 'dark magpie'.

3. The blue and green magpies (Urocissa and Cissa) have their own unique name in Vietnamese, Chim Giẻ cùi.

4. The Racket-tailed Treepie is known as Chim khách because of its call of 'khách khách'.

5. The ornithological name for the Dendrocitta treepies, Chim choàng choạc, appears to be a specialist term as it is not found in general dictionaries.

Species names

SCIENTIFIC & WESTERN		VIETNAMESE		EAST ASIAN		S. E. ASIAN
Temnurus
Latin	English/French	Vietnamese	Other V	Chinese	Japanese	Thai	Malaysian	Indonesian
Temnurus temnurus Crypsirina temnura	Ratchet-tailed treepie Notch-tailed tree pie Témia temnure	Chim khách đuôi cờ 'flag-tailed khach bird' (onomat.) (12, 34)		塔尾树鹊 (塔尾樹鵲) tǎ-wěi shù-què 'tower-tailed tree magpie'	キリオオナガ (切り尾尾長) kiri-o o-naga 'cut-tail long-tail'	นกกะลิงเขียดหางหนาม nók kà-liŋ-kʰìat hăaŋ-năam 'thorn-tailed treepie (bird)' (cf Psittaculidae)
Crypsirina
Latin	English/French	Vietnamese	Other V	Chinese	Japanese	Thai	Malaysian	Indonesian
Crypsirina temia	Racquet-tailed treepie Racket-tailed treepie Black racket-tailed tree pie Témia bronzée	Chim khách 'khach bird' (onomat.) (12, 34)		盘尾树鹊 (盤尾樹鵲) pán-wěi shù-què 'plate-tailed tree magpie'	クロラケットオナガ (黒ラケット尾長) kuro raketto o-naga 'black racket long-tail'	นกกาแวน nók kaa-waeen 'waeen crow (bird)' (onomat.)	Burung Gagak Anting-anting 'pendulum crow (bird)' (24, 26, 27)	Burung Tangkar Cetrong 'treepie stockman bird' (tangkar is from Javanese)
Dendrocitta
Latin	English/French	Vietnamese	Other V	Chinese	Japanese	Thai	Malaysian	Indonesian
Dendrocitta vagabunda Crypsirina vagabunda	Rufous treepie Indian tree pie Témia vagabonde	Chim Choàng choạc hung 'reddish treepie (bird)' (12, 34)		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'	นกกะลิงเขียด nók kà-liŋ-kʰìat 'treepie (bird)' (cf Psittaculidae)
Dendrocitta formosae Crypsirina formosae	Grey treepie Himalayan tree pie Témia de Swinhoe	Chim Choàng choạc xám 'grey treepie (bird)' (12, 13, 34)		灰树鹊 (灰樹鵲) huī shù-què 'grey tree magpie' Taiwan: (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'	นกกะลิงเขียดสีเทา nók kà-liŋ-kʰìat sĭi-tʰaw 'grey treepie (bird)' (cf Psittaculidae)
Dendrocitta frontalis Crypsirina frontalis	Collared treepie Black-browed tree pie Black-foreheaded tree pie Témia masquée	Chim Choàng choạc đầu đen 'black-headed treepie (bird)' (12, 34)		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'
Urocissa
Latin	English/French	Vietnamese	Other V	Chinese	Japanese	Thai	Malaysian	Indonesian
Urocissa flavirostris Cissa flavirostris	Yellow-billed blue magpie Gold-billed magpie Pirolle à bec jaune	Chim Giẻ cùi mỏ vàng 'yellow-billed bluemagpie (bird)' (12, 13)		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'
Urocissa erythrorhyncha Cissa erythrorhyncha	Red-billed blue magpie Blue magpie Pirolle à bec rouge	Chim Giẻ cùi 'bluemagpie (bird)' (12, 13, 34)		红嘴蓝鹊 (紅嘴藍鵲) hóng-zuǐ lán-què 'red-billed blue-magpie'	サンジャク (山鵲) sanjaku 'mountain-magpie'	นกขุนแผน nók kʰŭn-pʰăeen 'trogon (bird)'
Urocissa whiteheadi Cissa whiteheadi	White-winged magpie White-winged blue magpie Whitehead's blue magpie Pirolle de Whitehead	Chim Giẻ cùi vàng 'yellow bluemagpie (bird)' (12, 34)		白翅蓝鹊 (白翅藍鵲) bái-chì lán-què 'white-winged blue-magpie'	ハジロサンジャク (羽白山鵲) ha-jiro sanjaku 'white-winged mountain-magpie'
Cissa
Latin	English/French	Vietnamese	Other V	Chinese	Japanese	Thai	Malaysian	Indonesian
Cissa chinensis	Common green magpie Green magpie Pirolle verte	Chim Giẻ cùi xanh 'blue/green bluemagpie (bird)' (12, 34)		蓝绿鹊 (藍綠鵲) lán lǜ-què 'blue green magpie'	ヘキサン (碧鵲) hekisan 'green-magpie'	นกสาลิกาเขียว nók săa-lí-kaa kʰĭaw 'green talkingbird (bird)'	Burung Gagak Gunung 'mountain crow (bird)' (onomat.) (24, 26) Burung Gagak Hijau 'green crow (bird)' (onomat.) (27)	Burung Ekek Layongan layongan ? greenmagpie (bird)
Cissa hypoleuca	indochinese green magpie Yellow-breasted magpie Yellow-breasted green magpie Eastern green magpie Pirolle à ventre jaune	Chim Giẻ cùi bụng vàng 'yellow-bellied bluemagpie (bird)' (12, 34)		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'	นกสาลิกาเขียวหางสั้น nók săa-lí-kaa kʰĭaw hăaŋ-sân 'short-tailed green talkingbird (bird)'
Garrulus
Latin	English/French	Vietnamese	Other V	Chinese	Japanese	Thai	Malaysian	Indonesian
Garrulus glandarius	Eurasian jay Jay Geai des chênes	Chim Quạ thông 'pine crow (bird)' (12, 13, 34)		松鸦 (松鴉) sōng-yā 'pine crow' Taiwan: (松鸦) 松鴉 sōng-yā 'pine crow'	カケス (懸巣 ~ ) kake-su 'hang-nest'	นกปีกลายสก๊อต nók pìik-laay-sa-kóaat 'Scot-striped (= plaid)-winged bird'
Pica
Latin	English/French	Vietnamese	Other V	Chinese	Japanese	Thai	Malaysian	Indonesian
Pica pica	Eurasian Magpie Common Magpie Black-billed magpie Magpie Pie bavarde	Chim Ác là 'là crow1 (bird)' (12, 13, 34) or Chim Bồ các 'bồ các (bird)' (12, 13, 34)	Chim Ác xắc 'xắc crow1 (bird)' (34) Chim Ắc cắc 'cắc crow1 (bird)' Chim Hỉ thước 'hỉ thước (bird)' (from Chinese 喜鵲) Chim Ác là châu Âu 'European là crow1 (bird)'	喜鹊 (喜鵲) xǐ-què 'magpie' Taiwan: (喜鹊) 喜鵲 xǐ-què 'magpie'	カササギ (鵲) kasasagi 'magpie'	นกสาลิกาปากดำ nók săa-lí-kaa pàak-dam 'black-billed talkingbird (bird)'
Corvus
Latin	English/French	Vietnamese	Other V	Chinese	Japanese	Thai	Malaysian	Indonesian
Corvus corone	Carrion crow Corneille noire	Chim Quạ mỏ nhỏ 'small-billed crow (bird)' (12, 34)	Chim Quạ đen mỏ bé 'little-billed black crow (bird)' (13)	小嘴乌鸦 (小嘴烏鴉) xiǎo-zuǐ wū-yā 'small-billed crow' Corvus cornix 冠小嘴乌鸦 (冠小嘴烏鴉) guān xiǎo-zuǐ wūyā 'crested small-billed crow' (2) Taiwan: (小嘴乌鸦) 小嘴烏鴉 xiǎo-zuǐ wū-yā 'small-billed crow'	ハシボソガラス (嘴細烏 ~ 嘴細鴉) hashi-boso garasu 'slender-billed crow'		Burung Gagak Bangkai 'carrion crow (bird)' (onomat.) (24)
Corvus pectoralis Corvus torquatus	Collared crow Corbeau à collier	Corvus torquatus: Chim Quạ khoang 'streaked crow (bird)' (12, 13, 34)	Chim Ác khoang 'streaked crow1 (bird)' (Central dialects)	白颈鸦 (白頸鴉) bái-jǐng yā 'white-necked crow' Taiwan: (玉颈鸦) 玉頸鴉 yù jǐng yā 'jade-necked crow'	クビワガラス (首輪烏) kubi-wa garasu 'neck-ringed crow'
Corvus macrorhynchos	Large-billed crow or Jungle crow Thick-billed crow Corbeau à gros bec	Chim Quạ đen 'black crow (bird)' (12, 13, 34)	Chim Ác đen 'black crow1 (bird)' (Central dialects)	大嘴乌鸦 (大嘴烏鴉) dà zuǐ wū-yā 'large-billed crow' Taiwan: (巨嘴鸦) 巨嘴鴉 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'	อีกา ii-kaa 'crow' (onomat.)	Burung Gagak Paruh Besar 'large-billed crow (bird)' (onomat.) (24, 26, 27)	Burung Gagak Kampung 'village crow (bird)' (onomat.)

นกขุนแผน nók kʰŭn-pʰăeen properly refers to a traditional grouping which unites the blue magpies with the Harpactes trogons (Trogonidae). It does not actually mean simply 'trogon', but there is no comparable English translation for the name. Ornithological usage splits the familiar name between both groups. The unmodified name was redefined as 'bluemagpie' and the modified names are reserved for trogon names.

Sanskrit sārikā or śārikā 'talking bird' has been borrowed into Thai as สาริกา and ศาริกา, both săa-rí-kaa; and as สาลิกา săa-lí-kaa. Although the original Indic species identification is lost, Thai relates these names equally to magpies and to common mynas (Sturnidae).

中国鸟类分类与分布名录 主编：郑光美 科学出版社 北京 2005年
A Checklist on the Classification and Distribution of the Birds of China Chief editor: Zheng Guangmei, Science Press, Beijing 2005

中国鸟类野外手册（中文版）约翰・马敬能、卡伦・菲利普斯，合作者：荷芬奇，翻译：卢和芬 湖南教育出版社 长沙 2000年
A Field Guide to the Birds of China (Chinese translation) by John MacKinnon, Karen Phillipps, in collaboration with He Fen-qi, translated by Lu Hefen, Hunan Jiaoyu Chubanshe (Hunan Educational Press) Changsha 2000

世界鸟类分类与分布名录 主编：郑光美 科学出版社 北京 2002年
A Checklist on the Classification and Distribution of the Birds of the World Chief editor: Zheng Guangmei, Science Press, Beijing 2002

Danh Lục Chim Việt Nam (In lần thứ hai) (Checklist of the Birds of Vietnam) Võ Quý, Nguyễn Cử, Nhà Xuất Bản Nông Nghiệp, Hà Nội 1999

Chim Việt Nam Nguyễn Cử, Lê Trọng Trải, Karen Phillipps; Nhà Xuất Bản Lao Động - Xã Hội, 2000

Senarai Nama-nama Burung Semenanjung Malaysia dan Asia Tenggara by Ismail, Abdul Rahman, Perhilitan (Jabatam Perlindungan Hidupan Liar dan Taman Negara, Semenanjung Malaysia), Kuala Lumpur 1981
(List of the Names of Birds of Peninsular Malaysia and Southeast Asia by Ismail, Abdul Rahman, Department of Wildlife and National Parks, Peninsular Malaysia, Kuala Lumpur 1981)

A Field Guide to the Birds of West Malaysia and Singapore by Jeyarajasingam, Allen and Alan Pearson, Oxford University Press, Oxford 1999

The Birds of the Thai-Malay Peninsula: Vol. 2 - Passerines by Wells, David R., Christopher Helm, A&C Black, London 2007

Danh Lục Các Loài Chim ở Việt Nam (Latinh, Việt, Pháp, Hán) Trần Văn Chánh 2008-2009