Wildlifeof India
Eurasian Magpie
Crows, Drongos, Orioles & Shrikes
Photo: (c) bitsnbirds, some rights reserved (CC BY) · CC BY 4.0 (May be cropped or resized)
Pica pica
Basic stats
Diet
Vertebrates and carrion (SoIB diet guild)
Habitat
Alpine and cold desert (SoIB habitat class)
Range
Resident breeder throughout the northern part of the Eurasian continent
Size
44–46cm; wingspan 52–62cm (nominate subspecies)
Weight
Males 210–272g, females 182–214g
The Eurasian, or common, magpie is a resident breeding bird throughout the northern Eurasian continent and one of the most intelligent birds. The adult male of the nominate subspecies is 44–46 cm long, more than half of it tail, with a 52–62 cm wingspan; males weigh 210–272 g and females 182–214 g. The graduated tail is black, glossed with green and reddish purple, and the legs and bill are black. It is not closely related to the Australian magpie (Wikipedia, general species account).
It has a distinctive call, and the young also make an acute uik-uik that resembles a small dog's bark. Adults moult completely once a year after breeding, and mating takes place in spring. The cached account does not describe its range in India. SoIB 2023 lists it with uncertain migratory status, alpine and cold desert habitat and a vertebrate and carrion diet guild, without a priority category (Wikipedia, general species account; SoIB 2023).
Quick answers
- What does the Eurasian Magpie eat?
- Vertebrates and carrion (SoIB diet guild)
- What habitat does the Eurasian Magpie live in?
- Alpine and cold desert (SoIB habitat class)
- Where is the Eurasian Magpie found?
- Resident breeder throughout the northern part of the Eurasian continent
- How big is the Eurasian Magpie?
- 44–46cm; wingspan 52–62cm (nominate subspecies)
- How much does the Eurasian Magpie weigh?
- Males 210–272g, females 182–214g