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Magpie

Pica pica

Smart black and white, with a very long tail that shines green and blue in the sun.

Size
About 45cm long, half of it tail
Look for it
All year round
Where
Gardens, parks, streets and farmland

My spotter's list

Hops and struts after you, flicking its long tail. Move your pointer and see.

When to look

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Magpie

Good to know

Six things about the magpie

Mirror

It knows itself

The magpie is one of very few animals that can recognise itself in a mirror.

Rhyme

One for sorrow

The old rhyme counts magpies: one for sorrow, two for joy, three for a girl, four for a boy.

Shiny

Not really thieves

Magpies have a name for stealing shiny things, but tests show they are actually wary of them.

Colour

Not just black and white

Close up, the wings shine blue and the tail shines green and purple.

Nest

A nest with a roof

A magpie's nest is a big ball of twigs with a roof over the top and an entrance at the side.

Crows

A clever crow

Magpies belong to the crow family, which are some of the cleverest of all birds.

The real thing

Photos of the magpie

Magpie, photo 1
Photo: Charles J. Sharp, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
Magpie, photo 2
Photo: Amélie Tsaag Valren, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
Magpie, photo 3
Photo: Carlos Delgado, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons
Out and about

How to spot one

Look on lawns, rooftops and roadsides almost anywhere. The long tail, the black and white pattern and a harsh, rattling chatter make it hard to miss.

Lend a hand

How to help

Magpies are doing well and need little help. Thick hedges and shrubs give smaller birds somewhere safe to nest alongside them.

Keep going

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