Good Morning, Mr Magpie

"One for sorrow, two for joy..." Many of us are familiar with the Eurasian magpie, with its distinctive black and white plumage and mischievous and thieving reputation. Perhaps you have heard people say to a lonesome magpie "Hello Mr Magpie" or "Good morning/afternoon Captain", in a bid to appease this symbol of misfortune. And yet, magpies are not all they may seem...

Family: Corvidae (the crows)

Genus: Pica

Species: Pica pica

Despite their reputation of being thieves of shiny objects, and voracious predators of songbird young, magpies are actually incredibly intelligent birds. Their intelligence is equally matched by their curiosity. A magpie's total brain: body mass ratio is equal to that seen in most of the great apes and cetaceans, which puts magpies in a similar league of intelligence to that of great apes, in terms of social cognitive ability, flexibility, imagination and causal reasoning. Eurasian magpies have shown self-recognition in mirrors, which is something only a handful of mammals are able to do, and magpies are the only non-mammal species to show this capability. In terms of their curiosity, many of you may be aware that magpies are supposed to have a bona fide attraction to shiny objects, which has gained them the reputation of thieves.

The Eurasian magpie has a wingspan of 52-62cm, and they are approx. 44-46cm from head to tail. As you can see in the image above, the magpie's plumage is predominantly black and white, but it does have an almost green sheen in natural light. Adults undergo an annual complete moult after breeding, with the primary flight feathers being replaced over a 3 month period. Magpies are monogamous and pairs often remain together between breeding seasons (giving rise to the term in English folklore "Hello Mr Magpie, how is your wife today?" which is commonly said if a lone magpie is seen, as to appease misfortune).

Magpies are omnivorous and are well known to eat the young birds and eggs of songbirds, giving magpies an unfavourable reputation. They will also eat small mammals, insects, carrion, acorns and cereals.

Perception in different cultures:

• Britain; magpies are demonised by people, and are seen as an omen of misfortune. The rhyme "One for Sorrow" is commonly known as a result.
• Scotland; a magpie near the window is said to foretell death.
• Britain, Italy and France; magpies are perceived as thieves due to their attraction to shiny objects and materials.
• Sweden; magpies are associated with witchcraft.
• Norway; considered thieves, and seen as the bird of Huldra, the "underground people".
• Asia; contrasting with the European view of magpies, in Asia, magpies are celebrated for the good fortune they bring, and the prosperity and spirit which they offer.