On a dark, grey day, the magpie's glow is all the more striking. With its black and white plumage and blue-green sheen on its wings, it is one of the most striking birds in our landscape - even in gloomy weather. The magpie belongs to the crow family and is known for its intelligence, curiosity and opportunistic behaviour.
What surprises many is that magpies adapt effortlessly to both urban and rural environments. They often build their large, dome-shaped nests in tall trees or even in gardens, and they have a wide diet: from insects and seeds to eggs and rubbish.
In dark conditions, they look even more mysterious, almost elusive. Yet they are social, noisy birds, often in pairs or small groups. Their reputation as "thieves" is partly based on observations of shiny objects in nests, but scientific evidence for this is limited.
On a day like this, under a heavy cloud cover, the magpie symbolises contrast: beauty in black and white against a background of grey. Always alert, always present - even when the light almost disappears.
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