Magpie (2020)

Magpie, 2020, oil on canvas, 30 x 40 cm

Another bird with a very cute Latin name is the magpie: pica pica. Funnily enough, pica is also the medical term for eating substances that are considered non-edible, such as hair, wood, plastic, stones and such. A very commonly believed myth about the magpie is that it steals shiny objects, such as jewellery (although it’s not to eat them, but just to look at them), but this myth has been debunked – you probably just misplaced your prized possessions.

This radiant bird seems to be black and white at first glance, but in flight on a sunny day, you can clearly see the blacks in its plumage have a very strong bluish-green sheen. This bird also has an unusually long tail and is considered to be one of the most intelligent birds in the world.