Magpie Song

Magpie Song is a painting in watercolour and Indian ink illustrating the traditional rhyme.

• An original painting in watercolour on 600gsm paper, size size 540 x 400mm
• Digital file for you to make a print at a format and size of your choice
• A2 size signed poster prints

The magpie song rhyme goes like this:

One for sorrow
Two for joy
Three for a girl
Four for a boy
Five for silver
Six for gold
Seven for a secret never to be told
Eight for a wish
Nine for a kiss
Ten for a bird you must not miss.

About magpies

The European magpie (Pica pica) is a species of crow, and as with all corvids, they are incredibly intelligent. They can recognise themselves in a mirror, proof of self-awareness.

In folklore they are reckoned to be attracted to shiny objects, but there is no scientific proof for them being bling thieves. In my painting Magpie Song I have illustrated 10 birds from all angles to make the most of their gorgeous plumage and glossy, long tails. For a black and white bird, they are amazingly colourful - their plumage can appear green, blue and purple in certain light.

Magpies live in loose family groups and can often be seen in some numbers (at least where I live!) Some people consider them to be a bird of ill omen, but this is a daft superstition. Fake news! One magpie is always a joy.

Collective nouns for magpies are many - a tidings, a mischief, a charm, a flock, a gulp, a murder, a tittering, a conventicle, a tribe or a congregation. Take your pick! I like 'mischief'. You have to be clever to make mischief and these glorious birds are exactly that.

The magpie is a significant symbol in the BBC TV series "Detectorists" - of which I am a huge fan. At the end of episode 1, series 2, is this magical 4 minute sequence featuring a song by The Unthanks. The Unthanks take the original Magpie Song lyrics and amend them.