About this objectMagpies are among the most intelligent of all animals, being able to count and use tools. They also form gangs and have a bad reputation for raiding smaller birds’ nests.
The magpie has a long tail and raucous, rattle-like call. It looks black and white (or pied) but seen close up, the black feathers have an iridescent green or violet sheen. Magpies are shy and cautious in the countryside, avoiding humans but are common in suburban areas where they visit gardens in search of insects, scraps, grain and other food. It is one of the very few species besides humans where individuals have the ability to recognize themselves in a mirror. Many superstitions feature magpies, either as omens of ill fortune or as a means of predicting the future.