Stunning images have revealed the magnificent multicoloured wings of a magpie as it glides just inches above the ground.

Snapper Richard Steel captured one of the beautiful birds showing off its vibrant feathers while it took flight in a park on the Wirral, Merseyside.

The bird showed off its green, blue, black and white plumage in the sun as it swooped with a mouthful of peanuts it had just taken from a nearby feeder.

Richard Steel captured this magpie showing off its beautiful plumage as it flew in a park on the Wirral in Merseyside

The magpie showed off its vibrant blue and green feathers dispelling the myth that they are only black and white

Despite seeing them on a daily basis, most people believe magpies' feathers are black and white - but the photos show off the colourful birds in their full glory.

Mr Steel, 48, from New Brighton, Merseyside, said: 'I have spoken to people before about magpies and many say that they didn't realise they were so colourful and just thought they were black and white.

'Some even ask what type of magpie I'm showing them as they think it's different to the ones we have in the UK. But it's the same.

'Photographing birds in flight is not the easiest, but it becomes easier if you have the birds regularly flying to a particular spot.

'If you put out a pile of peanuts they will eat their fill and then will collect and bury the rest to eat later.

'To get the image showing all the colours is difficult to to achieve as they are all on the back of the birds.'

Mr Steel managed to snap the birds as they took nuts from a feeder he had set up in the park

Magpies are considered an highly intelligent bird breed and can recognise their own reflection

Magpies are part of the crow family and are considered one of the most intelligent animals in the world.