Eurasian Magpie
(Pica pica)
Description
Magpies are a distinctive type of crow with a black and white plumage and a long tail. They have white feathers on their chest and in the outer edge of their wings, while their black feathers are iridescent with hues of blue, green and purple shimmering through.
They grow up to 46 cm long, with a wingspan of up to 60 cm across, and have a chattering call.
Like other crows, they are omnivores and have a varied diet, eating fruit, seeds, small vertebrates, invertebrates, scraps, and roadkill.
Magpies can often be found in pairs or in groups and are very social birds.
Like other corvids, magpies are very intelligent, have great problem-solving capabilities and are good at mimicking sounds. Fittingly, a group of magpies is called a ‘mischief’.
Distribution
Magpies are native to and widespread throughout the British Isles, excluding northern Scotland. They can also be found in most of the rest of Europe apart from the northernmost parts of the continent. These birds can be found in many different types of habitats, but most commonly in human settlements, farmland, scrubland, and broadleaf woodland.
Folklore
Magpies appear in many myths and superstitions. It is said that encountering a lone magpie is a bad omen, but this bad luck can be warded off by greeting the magpie by saying “Good Morning, Mr. Magpie. How is your lady wife today?”
