Eurasian Magpie
Pica pica
The Eurasian Magpie is one of the few animal species, and the only non-mammal, known to pass the mirror self-recognition test.
- Scientific name
- Pica pica
- Taxonomy
- Animalia › Chordata › Aves › Passeriformes › Corvidae › Pica
- IUCN Red List status
- Least Concern
- Population trend
- increasing
- Biome
- urban
- Habitat
- Open countryside, meadows, parks, and urban gardens with scattered trees.
- Diet
- Omnivorous: insects, small mammals, carrion, seeds, berries, and occasionally eggs of other birds.
- Range
- Europe, Asia, Northwest Africa
- Size
- Length 44-46 cm; Wingspan 50-60 cm.
- Lifespan
- 3 to 5 years in the wild, though some reach over 15 years.
- Active
- diurnal
- Threats
- Pesticide use reducing insect prey, loss of hedgerows, and occasional human persecution.
- Safe to approach?
- Harmless and curious. Magpies are highly intelligent; if you encounter one, enjoy its antics from a distance. During nesting season, they may 'mob' or dive-bomb perceived threats near their nest; if this happens, calmly leave the area. Do not offer bread; if feeding, provide mealworms or sunflower seeds.
The Eurasian magpie or common magpie ( Pica pica ) is a resident breeding bird throughout the northern part of the Eurasian continent. It is one of several birds in the crow family designated magpies, and belongs to the Holarctic radiation of "monochrome" magpies. In Europe, "magpie" is used by English speakers as a synonym for the European magpie: the only other magpie in Europe is the Iberian magpie ( Cyanopica cooki ), which is limited to the Iberian Peninsula.
Photo: bitsnbirds, CC-BY, via iNaturalist
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