Embodiments of the invention provide a magnetic head which prevents data on a recording medium from being erased even when a stray field is applied. In one embodiment, a magnetic head includes a perpendicular write head having a main pole and an auxiliary pole; and a read head having a lower shield, an upper shield and a magneto-resistive element formed between the lower shield and the upper shield. At least one of the auxiliary pole, lower shield and upper shield has a recessed portion, whose height in an element height direction is lower than the height of edges thereof in a track width direction, on a surface opposite to the air bearing surface.