Photo: D. Gordon E. Robertson / CC BY-SA 3.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
Maghreb Magpie
Pica mauritanica
Maghreb Magpie (Pica mauritanica) — Crows, Jays & Magpies of Africa.
Found across 2 guides in our atlas — open any for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.
The Maghreb Magpie (Pica mauritanica) is a member of the Corvidae family found in Africa. Adults weigh 217 g. The IUCN Red List lists it as Least Concern.
Conservation status
IUCN Red List (opens in a new tab)Widespread and abundant — not currently at risk.
Where it fits
- Class Aves
- Order Passeriformes
- Family Corvidae Crows, Jays
- Genus Pica
- Species mauritanica
Quick facts
- Weight
- 217 g
- Diet
- Omnivores
- Family
- Corvidae
- Order
- Passeriformes
- Habitat
- Urban & human-modified
How to identify
Similar birds
Least Concern
Endangered
Not Evaluated
Not Evaluated
Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Maghreb Magpie is a omnivore — it takes a broad, omnivorous diet of both plant and animal foods.
Behaviour
A bird of farmland, parks and gardens, it forages mainly on the ground.
Migration
The Maghreb Magpie is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
The Maghreb Magpie (Pica mauritanica) is a member of the Corvidae family, within the order Passeriformes. Its range spans Africa. Its distribution covers AF nw Africa.
It is a large bird. Adults weighs around 217 g, with a wing length of about 19.3 cm and a tail of around 24.2 cm.
The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern. That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.
Its mapped global range covers an estimated 212,000 km².
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Maghreb Magpie?
The Maghreb Magpie is a large bird that weighs around 217 g.
Where does the Maghreb Magpie live?
The Maghreb Magpie is found across Africa with a range covering AF nw Africa, where it adapts readily to towns, parks and gardens.
What family does the Maghreb Magpie belong to?
The Maghreb Magpie (Pica mauritanica) belongs to the Corvidae family, in the order Passeriformes.
What does the Maghreb Magpie eat?
The Maghreb Magpie is a omnivore — it takes a broad, omnivorous diet of both plant and animal foods.
Does the Maghreb Magpie migrate?
The Maghreb Magpie is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
Is the Maghreb Magpie endangered?
The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.
What sound does the Maghreb Magpie make?
1 real field recording of the Maghreb Magpie — including its call — can be played in the Songs & calls section on this page, credited to the recordist who captured it.
How large is the Maghreb Magpie's range?
The Maghreb Magpie has a mapped global range of about 212,000 km².
Conservation
Every bird benefits from bird-safe windows, native plants, and keeping cats indoors. Small changes at home add up to real protection.
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Guides for this bird
Best Feeders for Jays & Larger Garden Birds
How to choose a feeder for jays and other big, bold garden birds — the styles that suit peanuts and larger food, and how to keep them from crowding your small-bird feeders. A decision framework with the species in the Birbs encyclopedia.