The Eurasian magpie or common magpie is a resident breeding bird throughout the northern part of the Eurasian continent. It is one of several birds in the crow family (corvids) designated magpies, and belongs to the Holarctic radiation of "monochrome" magpies. In Europe, "magpie" is used by English speakers as a synonym for the Eurasian magpie: the only other magpie in Europe is the Iberian magpie, which is limited to the Iberian Peninsula. Despite having a shared name and similar colouration, it is not closely related to the Australian Magpie.
Eurasian magpie
Skull of a Eurasian magpie
In flight, showing the numerous brightly coloured sheens on its feathers
A magpie's underside visible as it prepares to land
Corvidae is a cosmopolitan family of oscine passerine birds that contains the crows, ravens, rooks, magpies, jackdaws, jays, treepies, choughs, and nutcrackers. In colloquial English, they are known as the crow family or corvids. Currently, 135 species are included in this family. The genus Corvus containing 47 species makes up over a third of the entire family. Corvids (ravens) are the largest passerines.
Corvidae
Crested jayshrikes were thought to be in this family, but may be a type of helmetshrike instead.
Skeleton of American crow (Corvus brachyrhynchos) on display at the Museum of Osteology.
Corvids are highly opportunistic foragers. Here, a jungle crow feeds on a shark carcass.
