A thin film magnetic recording head including a reproducing head using a magnetoresistance effect and a single pole type perpendicular recording head, wherein the perpendicular recording head includes an auxiliary pole, a main pole, a shield against an external magnetic field, a first gap layer formed between the auxiliary pole and the main pole and a second gap layer formed between the main pole and the shield against the external magnetic field, and wherein a width of the auxiliary pole opposed to the first gap layer is larger than a width of the main pole opposed to the first gap layers and an edge of the shield against the external magnetic field which faces a recording medium is provided at a position recessed at least from a plane of an air bearing surface of the magnetic recording head at which an edge of the main pole which faces the recording medium is arranged with respect to a surface of the recording medium.