According to one embodiment, a magnetic head includes a reading head including first, second, and third reading elements R1, R2, R3 which are arranged in a down track direction with intervals in an air bearing surface. A core width RW2 of the second reading element is half the width of the data track or more, and a core width RW1 of the first reading element and a core width RW3 of the third reading element are less than the core width RW2. The first reading element is opposed to one end of the second reading element and is in a position overlapping a part of an adjacent data track, and the third reading element is opposed to the other end of the second reading element and is in a position overlapping a part of an adjacent data track.