The Eurasian magpie P. pica is a convenient model for phylogeographic and microevolution studies. It has high population number, wide Holarctic range and several peripheral isolates. Complete Control Region of mtDNA, 1,328 bp, was sequenced for 111 samples of 9 subspecies: P. p. fennorum, P. p. pica, P. p. bactriana, P. p. leucoptera, P. p. camtschatica, P. p. jankowskii, P. p. serica, P. p. mauritanica, and P. p. hudsonia. The phylogenetic network clearly illustrates the geographic distribution of haplotypes. One major group represents all European and Siberian subspecies, without any major haplotype and geographic affinity. The haplotype of Kamchatka differs from that clade by 19 and more substitutions. Its homogeneity reflects unambiguous founder effect or bottleneck of Kamchatka isolated population. The clade of P.p.serica and P.p.jankowskii representing samples from South Russian Far East, Japan and Korea, is separated from the western group by at least 66 substitutions. In total, this group is characterized by high nucleotide and haplotype diversity and besides it is subdivided into two subgroups. Yet, there is no clear geographic pattern. It is notable that even much diverged haplotypes were found at the same locality. The population of Kyushu Island introduced ca 300 years ago from Korea is very homogeneous due to founder effect. The other Japanese population of Hokkaido appeared first time 30 years ago, but is rather variable. It supposedly was originated from Primorsky krai population which is very heterogeneous itself. Divergence by mtDNA haplogroups which was described above corresponds well to differences in the magpie phenotypes and bioacoustic features, so mitochondrial and nuclear data prove to be in a good accordance. Taxonomic revision should be conducted in purpose to unite several subspecies. In majority of cases presented, genetic distinctness of the haplogroups may be explained by geographic isolation with further accumulation of mutations.
