Size: The adult of common magpie is glanderous 44–46 cm in length; the wingspan is 52–62 cm; weight 200-250 g.

Vocalisations: Eurasian magpies have a well-known call. It is a choking chatter "chac-chac" or a repetitive "chac-chac-chac-chac".

Habitat: The preferred habit is open countryside with scattered trees and magpies are normally absent from treeless areas and dense forests. They sometimes breed at high densities in suburban settings such as parks and gardens.

Behaviour: Eurasian magpies live in mated pairs and generally occupy the same territory in successive years. Outside of the breeding season they often gather in noisy groups flying about and even performing various displays. These birds are active during the day spending most of the time searching for food on the ground. They may also steal food from other birds or hide it in a small hole in the ground, for later use. Eurasian magpies are omnivorous birds. They eat young birds and eggs, small mammals, insects, scraps and carrion, acorns, grain, and other vegetable substances. Eurasian magpies are monogamous, and the pairs often remain together from one breeding season to the next. Clutches usually contain 5 or 6 eggs.
In Latvia, there are 10,000-20,000 couples.

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