Magpies have very long tails and blue green sheen on the black feathers should help you identify this member of the crow family. Magpies can be seen in parks, gardens, towns, woods and hedges. Magpies mainly eat seeds
baby birds, eggs and meat of other animals. They built in bushes or trees. Magpies learn to imitate a human voice. Sometimes you will see a Magpie having a free jaunt on a crow’s back or head. Magpies are woodland birds but they have adapted themselves to living far away from forests. The Magpies are newcomers to Ireland unknown here before the 17th Century near the year 1676 a party of less than a dozen arrived in County Wexford. They were blown there by a strong east wind. The Magpies Irish name is Snag Breac. 

story and illustration by
 Tara Henry