With their large size, bold pied plumage, and fondness for open areas, black-billed magpies are easily seen. They hop and walk on the ground with a swaggering and confident gait. Monotypic.

Many, on meeting the bird, raise their cap to it or even salute it to avoid bad luck. Seeing a lone magpie before going out ...

A rare white magpie was spotted among a group of the more common kind - showing birds of a feather don't always flock together. Amateur photographer Terry Wright photographed the creature ...