Magpies are jacks of all trades: scavengers, predators and cheeky thieves. They famously cannot resist a bit of bling, and regularly take brightly coloured objects from the garden, which makes them unpopular. Occurring throughout Europe and as far south as the Mediterranean, they are sociable birds that roost together and, in spring, gather in ‘magpie parliaments’ where unpaired birds look for mates. There are many folk stories involving magpies, and they were once thought to be in league with the devil.

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