adult

adult European distribution adult walking

Identification

The Magpie with its immaculate black and white plumage and green and blue gloss, is an unmistakable bird. In flight it can be easily distinguished by its long-tailed profile.

Habitat

Breeds and winters in open areas with trees or bushes, in woods, parks, gardens and hedgerows.

Behaviour

According to folklore, Magpies gather to stage 'parliaments' in which a group of birds apparently 'decides' to expel one or more of the birds in their group. More likely this is the apparent outcome of one Magpie trying to muscle in to an area which is at the edge of the territories of several pairs. All the territory holders will move to defend their bit of land, so they seem to cluster around the intruder until eventually it is chased off. Birds which don't hold a territory often roost communally in winter when flocks of up to 200 may be seen, especially towards dusk.

Migration

A mainly sedentary bird.

This information is taken from the BirdFile on the appropriate BirdGuides DVD-ROM. As well as video and sounds, our CD- and DVD-ROMs contain additional text on Voice, Sexing, Ageing, Food, Nests and Eggs and more.

For the purposes of our bird news services, Magpie is classed as Common: common species, including species that are certain or probable escapees from captivity when occurring in the British Isles. (Note that rarity levels are currently applied nationally and may not reflect local variations in abundance.)

Marloes, Pembrokes 06/02/2010	Alphington, Devon 25/01/2010	Alphington, Devon 25/01/2010	Whipsnade, Beds 17/01/2010	Old Gore, Herefs 06/01/2010
N.Wirral, Cheshire 23/12/2009	Big Wtrs NR, Northumbs 22/10/2009	undisc. site, Cheshire 20/12/2009	undisc. site, Cheshire 20/12/2009	Stockport, Manc'r 05/01/2009

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Magpie breeds in the following countries (Bird News Extra subscribers will see population statistics and information on trends for each country):

Albania
Andorra
Armenia
Austria
Azerbaijan
Belarus
Belgium
Bosnia and Herzegovina
Britain
Bulgaria
Croatia
Cyprus
Czech Republic
Denmark
Estonia
Finland
France
Georgia
Germany
Greece
Hungary
Ireland
Italy
Latvia
Lichtenstein
Lithuania
Luxembourg
Macedonia
Moldova
Netherlands
Norway
Poland
Portugal
Romania
Russia
Serbia and Montenegro
Slovakia
Slovenia
Spain
Sweden
Switzerland
Turkey
Ukraine

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	New insight into the brains of birds	Thursday 21st August 2008
	Magpies show evidence of self-recognition, a trait only previously proven in mammalian species, proving that birds are smarter than previously thought.   read on
	British Birds: 1942, vol. 36: pp 51-53 and 159-160	Thursday 24th April 2008
	An identification controversy and an interesting item of bird behaviour.

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