The short answer is no, magpies are not a type of crow. Magpies and crows are both members of the corvid family, which also includes jays, ravens and rooks, but magpies and crows belong to different genuses within that family.
Differences Between Magpies and Crows
There are several key differences between magpies and crows:
- Genus – Magpies belong to the genus Pica, while crows and ravens belong to the genus Corvus.
- Coloration – Magpies have distinctive black and white plumage, while crows are all black.
- Tail shape – Magpies have long, graduated tails, while crows have short, fan-shaped tails.
- Vocalizations – Magpies make a chattering “mag mag” call, crows have the distinctive “caw caw” call.
- Behavior – Magpies are highly intelligent and playful, crows are more wary and reserved.
Magpie Species
There are several different species of magpie found throughout Europe, Asia, and North America, including:
- Eurasian magpie (Pica pica) – Found throughout Europe and Asia
- Black-billed magpie (Pica hudsonia) – Found in western North America
- Yellow-billed magpie (Pica nuttalli) – Found in California
- Korean magpie (Pica serica) – Native to Korea and Manchuria
- Iberian magpie (Pica mauritanica) – Found in Portugal and Spain
The Eurasian magpie and the black-billed magpie are the two most widespread and recognized species.
Crow Species
In comparison, some of the most common crow species include:
- American crow (Corvus brachyrhynchos) – Throughout North America
- Northwestern crow (Corvus caurinus) – Pacific Northwest coast
- Fish crow (Corvus ossifragus) – Eastern and southeastern U.S. coasts
- Hawaiian crow (Corvus hawaiiensis) – Hawaii
- Hooded crow (Corvus cornix) – Northern and eastern Europe
- Carrion crow (Corvus corone) – Western and central Europe
- Rook (Corvus frugilegus) – Europe and Asia
- Jackdaw (Corvus monedula) – Europe and Asia
Key Differences in Appearance
The most obvious visual difference between magpies and crows is the coloration. Magpies have bold black and white plumage, with long graduated tails. Crows are all black, with short fan-shaped tails.
Magpies move around by walking and hopping on the ground, stopping frequently to inspect interesting objects. In flight their tail shape is distinctive. Crows tend to strut and hop while on the ground, and fly with steady, prolonged wing beats.
The bill shape also differs, with magpies having a more slender, curved bill adapted for omnivorous feeding. Crows have stouter, shorter bills used for cracking nuts and tough foods.
Behavioral Differences
In terms of behavior, magpies are highly intelligent, playful, and noisy birds. They are very social within their flocks. Magpies love shiny objects and are notorious for stealing small trinkets and hoarding them in their nests.
Crows are also intelligent, but they are warier than magpies around humans and tend to avoid heavily populated areas. Crows can be social at large roosts or territorial when nesting. They are vocal, using a wide array of calls, but lack the chatterty “mag-mag” call of magpies.
Habitat Preferences
Magpies thrive around open meadows, fields, and streamsides, especially in areas with scattered trees for nesting. Crows are extremely adaptable and occupy a wider range of habitats from forests to coastlines to city streets.
Diet
Both magpies and crows are omnivorous, feeding on insects, grains and seeds, fruits, small vertebrates, eggs, and carrion. However, magpies tend to feed more on the ground, while crows forage in trees and shrubs more often. Crows also consume more hard foods like nuts and snails.
Nesting and Reproduction
Magpies build large, domed nests high up in trees using thorny branches for protection. Crows build simpler nests of sticks and twigs, often lower in trees and closer to the trunk.
Both magpies and crows lay 5-8 light blue or green eggs speckled with brown markings. The eggs hatch after 18-21 days incubation. Young fledge the nest after 4-5 weeks but remain dependent on the parents for several more weeks.
Relationship to Humans
Magpies are often seen as pests by farmers because they occasionally raid crops, fruit trees, chicken coops, and songbird nests. But they also help control pests like rodents and scavenge carrion.
Crows are seen in a negative light due to crop damage and aggression around nests. But they also provide beneficial services like seed dispersal and cleaning up carrion.
Both species have adapted well to human habitats and are canny around humans. Their intelligence allows them to survive in close proximity to people.
Conclusion
While magpies and crows share some common traits and are both highly intelligent birds, they belong to separate genuses and have distinctive appearances, behaviors, calls, habitats, and diets. So a magpie is definitely not a type of crow, but rather a unique type of corvid on its own.
