The Eurasian magpie (Pica pica) is a common bird found across much of Eurasia. Its range stretches from Western Europe and Iberia in the west to the Russian Far East and China in the east. The Eurasian magpie has also been introduced to parts of North America and New Zealand. But where exactly can you find Eurasian magpies in their native range? Here we’ll take a closer look at the geographic distribution and habitat of this intelligent and adaptable bird.
Distribution in Europe
The Eurasian magpie is widespread across most of Europe. Its range extends throughout:
- The United Kingdom and Ireland
- Scandinavia
- France, Germany, and Central Europe
- The Iberian Peninsula
- Italy and the Balkan Peninsula
- Eastern Europe and European Russia
The only parts of Europe where the Eurasian magpie is not found include Iceland, northern Scandinavia, and some Mediterranean islands. The species is generally quite common and numerous within its European range. Estimated populations include:
- 1.2-1.5 million pairs in Russia
- 980,000-2,000,000 pairs in Turkey
- 610,000-1,300,000 pairs in Spain
- 150,000-300,000 pairs in France
- 52,000-170,000 pairs in Finland
So while exact numbers vary, the Eurasian magpie generally has large, robust populations across most of Europe.
Distribution in Asia
Moving eastward, the Eurasian magpie is widespread across many parts of Asia as well. Its Asian range includes:
- Turkey, the Caucasus, and the Middle East
- Central Asia and Western Siberia
- China
- Mongolia and the Russian Far East
- The Korean Peninsula
- Japan
In the Middle East, the species is found in countries such as Syria, Iraq, Iran, Afghanistan, and Pakistan. The Eurasian magpie’s range extends across much of Central Asia, including Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, Tajikistan, and Kyrgyzstan.
In Eastern Asia, the bird can be found as far north as eastern Siberia and as far south as northern Taiwan. Notable populations include:
- 2.5-10 million pairs in China
- Around 1 million pairs in Japan
- 980,000-2,600,000 pairs in Russia’s Asian range
So in Asia, the Eurasian magpie occupies a vast continental range spanning from Europe’s eastern edge to the Pacific coast.
Range Limits
What are the limits of the Eurasian magpie’s native range? A few notable absences include:
- Northern Scandinavia above latitudes of about 70°N
- Iceland
- Ireland
- Some Mediterranean, Atlantic, and Baltic islands
- The northernmost parts of Russia near the Arctic Ocean
- The southern tip of the Arabian Peninsula
- Most Pacific islands including the Philippines and Indonesia
- The Indian subcontinent
- Australasia and Oceania
So while the Eurasian magpie occupies a vast range stretching over 6,000 miles from west to east, it has some natural barriers. Oceans, high mountains, and extremes of hot or cold limit the magpie’s distribution and prevent it from occupying the entirety of Europe and Asia. However, the species has a very expansive natural range overall.
Introduced Populations
Beyond its native Eurasian range, the Eurasian magpie has also been introduced and become established in some new areas, including:
- Parts of western North America, especially Oregon and Washington
- Sections of the eastern United States and Canada
- Parts of New Zealand’s South Island and North Island
Location | Estimated Population |
---|---|
Oregon and Washington | 150,000 birds |
Atlantic coast of Canada | Unknown, locally common |
New Zealand | 50,000-100,000 pairs |
These introduced populations remain relatively small compared to the magpie’s native numbers in Eurasia. But they show how the intelligent and adaptable magpie can succeed in new environments outside its ancestral range.
Preferred Habitats
Across its widespread native and introduced ranges, the Eurasian magpie utilizes a variety of habitats. But it does tend to prefer certain types of environments. Prime magpie habitat includes:
- Open woodlands such as oak, pine, and spruce forests
- Forest edges and clearings
- A mix of fields, pastures, and trees
- Rural and suburban areas with trees and short vegetation
- Parks and gardens
The Eurasian magpie generally avoids dense forest as well as treeless plains and alpine areas. It prefers a mixture of trees and open spaces. This provides the combination of tall trees for nesting along with open areas for foraging on the ground for insects, grains, nuts, and small vertebrates. Eurasian magpies are highly adaptable and also utilize urban areas with trees and parks.
Ideal Magpie Habitat
In summary, prime Eurasian magpie habitat across its range consists of:
- Open woodlands and forests with scattered mature trees
- Forest clearings and edges
- Farmland with pastures, fields, hedgerows, and copses
- Rural areas with a mix of croplands, meadows, and trees
- Suburban parks and gardens
This combination of scattered trees and open spaces provides everything the intelligent Eurasian magpie needs to flourish in its widespread range across Eurasia and beyond.
Conclusion
The Eurasian magpie occupies a vast natural range spanning Ireland in the west to Sakhalin Island in the Russian Far East. Europe, the Middle East, Central Asia, and eastern Asia all hold thriving populations of this adaptable bird. While absent from extreme northern latitudes, mountainous areas, and some islands, the species populates a wide variety of open wooded habitats across Eurasia. Smaller introduced populations also exist in parts of North America and New Zealand. But the Eurasian magpie’s ancestral heartland remains the diverse woodlands, fields, farms, and rural areas stretching across the vast expanse of Europe and Asia, where these intelligent birds continue to flourish.