Learn what every symbol on the card means.Full credits and sources at beakbrain.com/symbols










What the Eurasian Magpie sounds like



ID tip
The adult male of the nominate subspecies, P. p. pica, is 44–46 cm (17–18 in) in length, more than half of which is the tail. Its wingspan is 52–62 cm (20–24 in). The head, neck, breast and vent are glossy black with a metallic green and violet sheen; the belly and scapulars (shoulder feathers) are pure white; the wings are black glossed with green or purple, and the primaries have white inner webs, conspicuous when the wing is open. The graduated tail is black, glossed with green and reddish purple. The legs and bill are black; the iris is dark brown.
Text from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
When to see the Eurasian Magpie
One bar for each month, and every month is filled: this bird is recorded here in all twelve. The wide bar is January, the month with the most records.
Where to see the Eurasian Magpie
The map shades 69 countries with regular records, and 4 more in a lighter tone where the bird turns up only as a stray. Everything unshaded has no records. Countries are listed below the map.
Recorded as a rare visitor in Morocco, Japan, United States, Singapore.
About the Eurasian Magpie
The Eurasian magpie or common magpie is a resident breeding bird throughout the northern part of the Eurasian continent. It is one of several birds in the crow family (corvids) that are designated as magpies, and it belongs to the Holarctic radiation of "monochrome" magpies. In Europe, the term "magpie" is used by English speakers as a synonym for the Eurasian magpie; the only other species of magpie in Europe is the Iberian magpie, which is restricted to the Iberian Peninsula. Despite sharing a name and similar colouration, they are not closely related to the Australian magpie, which is an artamid.
Text adapted from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
Easily confused with
Black-billed MagpiePica hudsoniaThe black-billed magpie is an unmistakable bird within its range.
Oriental MagpiePica sericaIt is 45 cm long.
Side by side: Black-billed Magpie vs Eurasian Magpie · Eurasian Magpie vs Oriental Magpie · Eurasian Magpie vs Yellow-billed Magpie
Learn the Eurasian Magpie in the BeakBrain App
Photo and call practice. Coming soon to iPhone and Android.
Play today's Daily BirdEvery photo and recording on this page is credited to its author under the licence shown. Spotted a problem with this page, or have a better photo? Contribute.