Field Guide

Common Magpie

Pica pica

Aves › Passeriformes › Corvidae › Pica

Conservation status: least_concern

Common Magpie (Pica pica)
Photo: (c) bitsnbirds, some rights reserved (CC BY), CC BY 4.0, iNaturalist

The Common Magpie is a large black and white bird with an unmistakable appearance, featuring a glossy black head, back, and wings contrasted by bright white shoulders and belly, along with a long tail that makes up half its body length. Known for their intelligence and curiosity, magpies are highly social birds that often gather in noisy flocks and are famous for their distinctive loud calls and their habit of collecting shiny objects.

How To Identify

Magpies are medium-sized, striking passerines recognized by their highly iridescent black plumage. They possess distinctive white markings visible on the wings and tail feathers, giving them a checkered appearance.

Habitat

The Common Magpie lives in farmland, woodland edges, and gardens.

Behaviour

The Common Magpie is an omnivorous and opportunistic species that builds a large domed nest of sticks.

Native Range

The Common Magpie is native to the northern part of the Eurasian continent.

Did You Know?

Magpies are among the few non-mammal species that can recognise themselves in a mirror.

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