Bird
Eurasian Magpie
Pica picaAlso known as Common Magpie
The Eurasian Magpie is a black-and-white corvid with a very long graduated tail and metallic blue-green sheen on dark feathers. Intelligent and adaptable, it walks across open ground for animal prey and scraps, caches food, and builds a domed stick nest.
Intelligent CorvidLong TailOpportunistic Omnivore
—observations
—countries
—peak records
Least ConcernConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXLeast ConcernRed List categories, explained →
Diet & preyBeetles, Earthworms, Small rodents
Predators
- Goshawks
- Eagle-owls
- Martens
ThreatsPersecution, vehicle strikes, poisoning, nest-tree loss, and disease
HabitatsFarmland, open woodland, scrub, parks, gardens, towns, and riparian corridors
Life spanOften 3 to 8 years, with some wild birds living beyond 15 years
Classification
- OrderPasseriformes
- FamilyCorvidae
- GenusPica
- SpeciesPica pica
Range data is not available yet.
Interaction riskLow
- Low
- Moderate
- High
- Very high
- Why interaction risk is low
- Do not feed magpies or approach fledglings while attentive adults are nearby.
Responsible observation
- Shape: Use the long tail and bold black-and-white pattern for identification.
- Behavior: Watch for deliberate ground walking and food caching.
Help improve the field guideSomething wrong?
Checking your Fauna account…Report a name, category, or profile issue for review.