What's that bird?

Magpie

Magpies are a type of crow. They're bold and very smart. In fact, they're one of the most intelligent animals in the world! They eat whatever they can find: seeds, insects, fruit, carrion, even food people have left out for their pets.

How to recognise a magpie

With their black and white feathers, magpies look like smartly dressed crows. Their black legs and beak look very sturdy. They have long, black tails with a green or blue shine. 

Size: 45 cm

Sound: magpies don't really sing. They make very distinct and loud clicking noises, almost like they're cackling.

Did you know?

Magpies use sticks as tools, and they're one of only a few animals that can recognise their own reflection in a mirror.

David Friel from Telford, England, CC BY 2.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0>, via Wikimedia Commons