A birdcage coil (16) used in conjunction with a magnetic resonance imaging apparatus includes a first conductive loop (81, 581), a second conductive loop (82, 582), and a plurality of first conductor rungs (80, 580) disposed between the first and second conductive loops. A third conductor (83, 83'', 583) is coupled to the second conductive loop at resonance frequencies, such as by second conductor rungs (84, 84'', 584). The birdcage coil also includes switches (590) for switching the birdcage coil at least among: 1) an RF transmit mode to operate as an RF transmit coil; and 2) an RF receive mode to operate as an RF receive coil.