Bold, brilliant and with a reputation that precedes it - our printable magpie mask is a British garden classic with real personality! The magpie is one of the most intelligent birds in the world, instantly recognisable with its striking black and white plumage and that extraordinary iridescent tail. Perfect for British birds school projects, clever animals classroom activities, World Book Day, birthday parties, and mischievous imaginative play.

One of the most recognisable birds in Britain and a fantastic subject for intelligence and behaviour topics - the magpie's problem-solving abilities and complex social life make it genuinely fascinating once you get past the folklore. Every mask comes with a full colour version AND a black and white line art version for colouring in.

5 Interesting Facts About Magpies!

Magpies are one of only a handful of non-mammal species that can recognise themselves in a mirror - when a coloured dot is placed on their feathers where they can only see it in the mirror, they try to remove it, demonstrating genuine self-awareness.
Their black feathers aren't actually black - they contain layers of melanin and structural colouring that create a stunning iridescent shimmer of blue, green and purple in sunlight.
Magpies hold 'funeral' gatherings - when one dies, others will gather around the body, call loudly, and sometimes lay grass next to it before departing. Whether this constitutes grief is debated, but the behaviour is consistent.
The famous magpie rhyme ('one for sorrow, two for joy...') dates back to the 18th century - though magpies are in reality no more ominous than any other bird.
A group of magpies is called a parliament - which feels entirely appropriate given their reputation for scheming intelligence and noisy debate.

Printable Magpie Mask

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