The Magpie & The Nightingale by Joel Rawlings

We recently held a bird folklore writing workshop online, led by the brilliant Electra Rhodes and attendees were given a huge amount of expert advice on writing bird stories of their own. One attendee, Joel Rawlings was inspired to write this story and we are delighted to share it here.

The magpie originally had the sweetest, most beautiful song of all the birds, so melodic that when it sang the other birds all stopped to listen. The magpie would fly to the top of the tallest tree and sing to its rapturous audience, its black and white plumage looking resplendent.
However, the magpie started to become arrogant with all the adoration it received and decided that it should receive something for its beautiful song. If it was to sing then it would require payment from each bird, something shiny and gleaming. Until then there would be no more singing.
The other birds quickly started to look for suitable objects, so much did they wish to hear the magpie sing again. First to return was the bullfinch, carrying a rosehip, glistening with dew. The magpie eyed this a little disdainfully but then sang a song so beautiful that the bullfinch’s breast turned the colour of the rosehip. Next the kingfisher arrived bringing a shiny blue fish, its scales glittering in the sunlight. The magpie approved and sang so sweetly that the kingfisher’s back turned a brilliant blue. The other birds clamoured to bring the magpie more gifts, each one the magpie stored in their nest.
However, deep in the undergrowth sat the nightingale, who was feeling more and more jealous.
“My song is the most beautiful, no one comes with gifts for me” it thought. It watched as the magpie received another gift, sang again and off flew a newly coloured bird.
“I need a plan” the nightingale mused, looking around for inspiration. As it did it noticed on the ground below two brightly coloured stones, one green and one blue. Flying down it saw that both sparkled as the sunlight coming through the branches and twigs fell on them. At that moment it had an idea.
The magpie was getting quite tired, it had been a long day of singing, but looking in the nest, full of glittering shiny objects, the magpie felt very pleased indeed. As it prepared to rest up though it heard a noise behind it. Turning round it saw a small brown bird with two incredible small shiny stones in front of it, one green and one blue. The magpie’s eyes widened, for these the song would be the absolute best it had ever sung.
However, as the magpie opened its beak to sing the nightingale quickly flicked both stones towards it. Both stones flew into the magpie’s mouth and lodged in its throat. Instead of the sweet, sweet song that the magpie had intended a tuneless rattle sounded. The magpie tried again to try to expel the stones, but again only managed to cause them to rattle in its throat. As it tried in vain to clear the obstructions the song it had wanted to sing channelled inside the magpie and slowly its black feathers started to turn a combination of green and blue as they caught the light.
“What have you done?’ the magpie croaked. It looked around as the other birds had returned to find out what was making such a nasty noise.
“Now I will be known to have the most beautiful song of all” announced the nightingale to the rest of the birds.
“You may have the sweetest song” the birds said as one, “but we never want to see you, go hide in your bushes and sing your song, but don’t show yourself.” With that the birds flew off leaving the shiny magpie still trying to clear the stones from inside itself and the nightingale back hiding in the bushes singing a beautiful song.