The height, chosen tree species and location of 1316 Magpie nests in 11 towns and 6 farmland plots were examined in 1992. t-tests revealed a difference significant at p < 0.001 for the heights at which nests were located, with those in urban areas (x̅ = 13.2m, SD = 3.7, N = 513) being higher than those in suburban areas (x̅ = 11.3, SD = 4.1, N = 232), those in villages (x̅ = 9.6, SD = 3.7, N = 433) and those on farmland (outside villages) (x̅ = 9.0, SD = 3.7, N = 138). The heights of nests in villages and on farmland outside villages did not differ significantly. The percentage distribution of chosen trees showed a predominance of similarities (using Renkonen's Index) for the biotopes compared: urban and suburban areas (Re = 73%), villages and farmland outside villages (Re = 77%). The percentage distribution of nest locations (single trees/shrubs, clumps of trees/shrubs, parks/cemeteries, gardens/orchards, avenues, rows of trees/hedgerows) also showed a predominance of similarities for urban areas, suburban areas, villages and farmland outside villages (Re values between 75% and 85%). The data indicate substantial ecological plasticity in the selection of nest sites by Magpies and suggest that differences are due to local variations in nesting habitat rather than real differences between urban and rural populations.