Magpie
Buckpool and Fens Pool Local Nature Reserve
What3Words
///thin.spill.bravo
The magpie is an intelligent bird belonging to the Corvidae family, which also includes crows, jays, and ravens. Known for its distinct black-and-white plumage, noisy chattering, and long tail, it is the subject of much folklore and superstition in many parts of the world.
Appearance
Distinctive features:
The magpie has a black head, chest, and back, a white belly and white patches on its wings and shoulders.
Iridescent sheen:
When seen up close, the black feathers have an iridescent sheen of blue, green, and purple.
Long tail:
The tail can make up to a third of its body length and also has an iridescent gloss.
Intelligence and behavior
Highly intelligent:
Magpies are considered one of the most intelligent of all bird species. The Eurasian magpie is one of the few non-mammalian species that can recognize itself in a mirror.
Tool use and games:
They can use tools, imitate human speech, play games, and work in teams.
Hoarding:
Magpies often hoard food to eat later, hiding it in the ground and covering it with grass or leaves.
Social:
Outside of breeding season, non-breeding magpies often gather in small flocks.
Nesting:
They build large, domed nests out of sticks and mud, often high in trees or hedges.
Habitat and diet
Widespread habitat:
Magpies are highly adaptable and can be found in a variety of habitats across Europe, Asia, and western North America. This includes woodlands, farmland, gardens, and urban areas.
Omnivorous diet:
As omnivores and scavengers, they eat insects, seeds, fruit, carrion, and small vertebrates. In gardens, they'll also eat human food scraps.
Folklore and superstition:
"One for sorrow...": A famous nursery rhyme suggests that the number of magpies you see can predict your fortune.
Bad luck:
In European folklore, a single magpie is often considered an omen of bad luck, while a group of them is seen as good fortune. In some myths, the bird was cursed for not properly mourning Jesus's crucifixion.
Good luck:
In some cultures, such as Korea, the magpie is a symbol of good luck and good news.
"Thieving Magpie" myth:
The idea that magpies compulsively steal shiny objects is largely a myth. Studies show they are generally neophobic (fearful of new things) and will avoid shiny objects.
Magpie
Buckpool and Fens Pool Local Nature Reserve
What3Words
///thin.spill.bravo
The magpie is an intelligent bird belonging to the Corvidae family, which also includes crows, jays, and ravens. Known for its distinct black-and-white plumage, noisy chattering, and long tail, it is the subject of much folklore and superstition in many parts of the world.
Appearance
Distinctive features:
The magpie has a black head, chest, and back, a white belly and white patches on its wings and shoulders.
Iridescent sheen:
When seen up close, the black feathers have an iridescent sheen of blue, green, and purple.
Long tail:
The tail can make up to a third of its body length and also has an iridescent gloss.
Intelligence and behavior
Highly intelligent:
Magpies are considered one of the most intelligent of all bird species. The Eurasian magpie is one of the few non-mammalian species that can recognize itself in a mirror.
Tool use and games:
They can use tools, imitate human speech, play games, and work in teams.
Hoarding:
Magpies often hoard food to eat later, hiding it in the ground and covering it with grass or leaves.
Social:
Outside of breeding season, non-breeding magpies often gather in small flocks.
Nesting:
They build large, domed nests out of sticks and mud, often high in trees or hedges.
Habitat and diet
Widespread habitat:
Magpies are highly adaptable and can be found in a variety of habitats across Europe, Asia, and western North America. This includes woodlands, farmland, gardens, and urban areas.
Omnivorous diet:
As omnivores and scavengers, they eat insects, seeds, fruit, carrion, and small vertebrates. In gardens, they'll also eat human food scraps.
Folklore and superstition:
"One for sorrow...": A famous nursery rhyme suggests that the number of magpies you see can predict your fortune.
Bad luck:
In European folklore, a single magpie is often considered an omen of bad luck, while a group of them is seen as good fortune. In some myths, the bird was cursed for not properly mourning Jesus's crucifixion.
Good luck:
In some cultures, such as Korea, the magpie is a symbol of good luck and good news.
"Thieving Magpie" myth:
The idea that magpies compulsively steal shiny objects is largely a myth. Studies show they are generally neophobic (fearful of new things) and will avoid shiny objects.