The magpie isn’t found in the northeastern US but very common in the west and in Europe.
They are in the crow family but they really don’t get along together. Every time I saw them they were being harassed by a flock of crows. They are a striking black and white bird with an iridescent blue on the back of their wings.
Reputed to steal shiny objects, Rossini even wrote an opera, La gazza ladra (in English The Thieving Magpie) about a maid accused of stealing her mistress’ silver until it turns out that it was actually the Magpie who took it.
