The Eurasian magpie is a large black and white bird with a harsh, chattering call. It is considered a pest by many due to its predation of the eggs and nestlings of other species of birds, and is closely associated with a number of superstitions and omens. Despite this the magpie is highly intelligent with the ability to use tools, play games, and count.
Breeding pairs: 600,000 territories
Family: Crows & allies
Magpies have a black back and vent with iridescent metallic bluey-green wings. They have large white patches on the scapulars and white marks on the primaries which are visible when the wings are extended. Their chest is black and the belly is pure white. The long tail is iridescent blue-green with a glossy purple band near the tip.
Magpies have black heads, a strong black bill, dark brown eyes, and black legs and feet. Male and female magpies are similar but the female is smaller.
Juveniles resemble the adults except the plumage is duller and less glossy and the tail is shorter.
Magpies situate their nests in trees or bushes a few metres above the ground. Both adults build the nest which is a mud bowl lined with twigs, grass, rootlets and hair, surrounded by a large domed structure made from larger twigs that has two entrances. Construction takes about 5 or 6 weeks.
Magpies lay 4-9 greenish grey eggs with dark brown speckles, which are incubated by the female alone for 16-21 days. The male will feed her while she is on the nest.
Chicks are altricial and are fed by both parents. They fledge at 25-29 days but cannot fly very well and will remain hidden in bushes for some time. Magpies produce one brood a season and family units will stay close together until autumn.
Magpies are scavengers and omnivorous and during the spring and summer will eat invertebrates such as beetles, flies, caterpillars and worms. In the winter they will eat more plants such as fruit, berries and grains. They will also eat small mammals and during breeding season are known to take other birds’ eggs and young. When food is scarce, magpies will hoard food, placing it in a hole in the ground and covering it with grass or leaves.
Magpies can be found all over the UK except in the Highlands of Scotland. You will see them in farmlands, thickets, meadows, lightly wooded areas and towns and cities including parks and gardens.
Magpies are one of only a handful of animals that can recognize themselves in a mirror and the only species of bird to have demonstrated this ability.
17 Responses
A couple of magpies are making a nest in a tree near my garden. I love watching them and have named them George & Mildred. I hope they keep safe . Nature so interesting
Salute one meaning is 1 for sorrow so a good morning and salute covers the sorrow. Stops bad luck.
Just recently started putting stuff out, initially for the 3 Squirrels that visit everyday to point i can hand feed them, but now noticed a lot of magpies visiting, I put nuts on ground as I feed the Squirrels on my ledge, now have probably 6 or 7 visit now lol fascinating animals, sit on my fence then actually land one at a time, take a nut, he leaves, then next one does same and so on,
Oh fantastic! We have a family of 3 squirrels we feed plus all the birds.Plymouth UK
My magpies love cat food. I put my cats uneaten food out each morning and they love it. Will be highly nutritious for such an omnivore. And saves wasting it.
our resident family (pica pica) is preparing for winter in the UK. Caching nuts and stuffing themselves on dad’s meal remains. The male is considerably bigger than the female; they have been together 3 years and raised young (who are extremely amusing when they reach ‘tantrum’ stage). The adult male imitates starling song to go with his own.
I love a magpie and we have a pair that regularly visit our garden. I call them fatty and thinny for obvious reasons. They recognise me as soon as I go outside hoping I have put something down for them in addition to the bird feeder. Usually I have, fat and raw meat trimmings which are pounced on. I am easy to recognise being very fair haired so I think they spot me from quite a distance. This pair have been visiting for about 3-4 years and I have observed mating.
Last year I watched a pair of magpies build their nest high in a tree. It seemed that they only had one chick, as I never saw anymore than the parents and chick together.
This year I see that one magpie returns to the nest and stays there for quite a while. Is this usual? Do magpies reuse their nests for more than one year? I always thought that they built a new nest each year.
I have now a resident juvenile magpie, I call him Monty Magpie, and he is so good at hunting beetles and bugs that destroy my garden. He has taken to hopping into the house from time to time, and sometimes leaving his calling card. Monte lives in Brisbane Queensland Australia. I put out some food when his normal food is scarce and he rewards me with the most beautiful warbling tune.
How can one identify individual magpies? Is it the same magpie or a different one. We can tell males females and young.
I saved a baby magpie earlier this summer, when all chicks fell down, and only this one survived. He/she (I cannot figure out as the entire hood is still black) can fly and eat alone and lives outside now, but is a part of our home&family, just communicating all the time, always flies in when called, especially when hungry. Smart as it gets.. beautiful bird! Thanks for the info
Just had a magpie fall down my chimney and then fly around my living room. Set it free back into my back garden.
My dad always said “Good morning my lord” to the first magpie, “Good morning my lady” to the next, then if there were more he’d alternate between lord and lady.
For the last three days I’ve had a very young Magpie spending most of its time in my small patio garden. I put seed out for the birds every day and he (or she) hops about all over the place. At first, not knowing anything about Magpies, I thought it couldn’t fly , but today it’s looking more like a teenager and flying about .
It seems to have a favourite perch on top of a low garden ornament that’s against my patio window. I have the door open as the weather has been beautiful, so every time he perches there , I say hello and talk to him and I’m sure he’s listening to me! He’s a lovely chap (?) and fortunately I’m not in the least superstitious!
Thank you for your interesting information….
I always say “Good morning, Mr. Magpie” when I see any.
No idea why, or where I got the habit from.
We have a lot of magpies round here and often find them in the middle of the road picking on carrion while I’m driving along. I say ‘shift Maggie’ and they always do before they get run over. I do the same with Jackdaws, although in their case it is ‘shift Jackie’.
When ever I see a magpie I always salute it and ask it how it’s wife is. Does anyone else do that? I’m too scared not to incase something bad happens to my day.