European Magpie

Pica pica

Common residents with 590,000 breeding pairs in Britain plus 750,000 birds in Ireland.

Also breeds in mainland Europe.

Adults have the head, neck, breast and vent are glossy black with a metallic green and violet sheen; the belly and scapulars (shoulder feathers) are pure white; the wings are black glossed with green or purple, and the primaries have white inner webs, conspicuous when the wing is open.

The graduated tail is black, glossed with green and reddish purple. The legs and bill are black; the iris is dark brown.

The rump is black with white stripe.

The distinctive call is a chattering "chac-chac" or a repetitive "chac-chac-chac-chac.