Taken at full zoom though my patio door this Magpie ~ Pica pica or Snag breac in Irish was looking out over the gardens & watching out for it's mate to join it. A species of crow. All crows have sturdy legs and strong bills and are intelligent and social in nature. Very easy to tell apart from any other bird. Boldly marked in black and white with a very long tail. The head, chest, back and tail are black; the belly and flanks are white. Shows white outer wings which contrast strongly with black and white on the inner wings. Plumage can show a green or blue gloss depending on the light. Short, stout, black bill. Longish black legs which are used for both walking and bounding. Juvenile birds are very similar to adults but lack the long tail, which takes a while to grow. Flight is fluttering and direct. Noisy flocks, know as 'Magpie parliaments' can form. Susan