Magpie
Magpie Facts
| Size | 17-18 inches (44-46 cm) |
| Speed | Up to 20 mph (32 km/h) |
| Weight | 6.3-9.5 ounces (180-270 g) |
| Lifespan | 8-15 years |
| Food | Omnivore |
| Predators | Foxes, cats, coyotes |
| Habitat | Europe, Africa, Asia |
| Order | Passerine |
| Family | Corvidae |
| Scientific name | Pica pica |
| Characteristics | Corvid with black and white plumage and long tail feathers |
Main Characteristics
Magpies are corvids. They can be easily identified by their black and white plumage and long tail feathers. Their feathers on the head and back are black, while the primary and tail feathers shine with blue, green, and purple hues. The belly and shoulders are white. Magpies are remarkably intelligent birds. They are as clever as chimpanzees, gorillas, and orangutans.
Distribution and Habitat
Magpies can be found almost everywhere: in Europe, Asia, and North Africa. In the past, they primarily inhabited forests and fields. However, due to frequent hunting in those areas, they have moved closer to human settlements – which is why they are referred to as culture followers. Nowadays, you can see them in nearly every garden, park, or cemetery. During winter, they do not migrate south; instead, they stay with us. They are resident birds.
Anatomy and Appearance
Size and Weight
Magpies reach a height of 17-18 inches (44-46 cm) and have a wingspan of 20-24 inches (52-62 cm). Their tail feathers are distinctly long and graduated, measuring between 12-28 cm. They typically weigh around 6.3-9.5 ounces (180-270 grams).
Plumage
Magpies are easily identifiable by their distinctive black and white plumage. Their tail and wing feathers are blue, green, or purple and have a metallic sheen.
Diet
The magpie is an omnivore. It consumes both plant-based and animal-based foods. Its plant diet includes fruits, seeds, and mushrooms, while its animal diet consists of insects, larvae, worms, small vertebrates, and even carrion. Additionally, it is known for raiding the nests of other birds, stealing their eggs. It will even eat their young. This behavior has led to it being colloquially referred to as the "bird killer."
Behavior
Are Magpies Thieves?
It is said that magpies love everything that shines. In fact, they can be seen carrying off items like coins or aluminum foil. This is why they are referred to as the "thieving magpie." However, researchers discovered in a 2014 experiment that they actually view shiny objects with suspicion and rarely take them: only 2 out of 64 times. So, the magpie's reputation is unjustified. It seems to stem from the fact that we humans tend to remember more vividly when a bird picks up something shiny.
What Do Magpies Sound Like?
You can instantly recognize magpies by their call, even if you can't see them. They are quite loud and "talkative." Their most well-known call is their warning call: a loud, rhythmic "Chack-chack-chack" - which is also referred to as chacking. It sounds almost like a wooden rattling. However, magpies can be quite different as well: they also have a soft and delicate bird song. They usually "sing" in the spring when they are relaxed on a branch. It is a rather gentle chattering and chatting.
Magpies Form Flocks
Outside of the breeding season, they form small flocks to better protect themselves from predators. Such groups can sometimes include up to 100 birds.
Intelligence
Magpies are remarkably intelligent birds. Here are a few pieces of evidence:
They Have Mathematical Skills
Magpies are capable of remarkable cognitive feats. A naturalist discovered this as early as the 18th century. For example: If five people hide behind a tree near a nest, the magpie counts them accurately. If only four come back out, it stays alert, as it won't abandon its nest. It knows: the fifth person is still behind the tree.
Their Memory Is Exceptional
They bury food for lean times. Even after several days, they can still remember exactly where their stash is hidden.
They Pass The Mirror Test
Magpies are able to achieve what usually only humans, great apes, dolphins and a few other animals are capable of: They can recognize themselves in the mirror. But how can scientists prove things like this? They marked a spot on the magpie’s plumage the bird normally cannot see. In the mirror, the magpie curiously looked at this spot and inspected it with its beak.
Whenever I spot a magpie, I often pause and watch it for a bit. I find it fascinating how it scans its surroundings in search of food.
Silke from animalfunfacts.net
Life Expectancy
In the wild, magpies typically live between 8-15 years. However, if they face no predators and have a steady food supply, they can even exceed 20 years of age.
Enemies and Threats
Natural Enemies
Large birds of prey such as hawks and falcons hunt magpies. Additionally, domestic cats and martens often attempt to steal eggs from their nests.
Human Impact
Many people dislike magpies because they are seen as nest raiders. They occasionally consume the eggs of other songbirds, but this happens only rarely. Nevertheless, they are frequently driven away by humans or their habitats (like hedges) are destroyed.
Reproduction
Magpie pairs usually stay together for life. They start nest building around March. The nest is a thick ball made of twigs, and notably, it often has a roof made of thorny branches to protect the chicks from predators. The female lays about 4-7 eggs, and after 3 weeks, the chicks hatch. The parents care for them together until they can manage on their own after about 2 months.
Fun Facts
Does the Magpie Bring Good or Bad Luck?
Each culture has its unique perspective on this friendly little bird. During the Middle Ages, the magpie was linked to witches. For the Germanic tribes, the magpie was the bird of Hel, the goddess associated with death. In contrast, in Asia, the magpie is viewed more favorably and is thought to bring good fortune. Similarly, Native Americans hold the magpie in high regard, believing it to be a type of spiritual entity.
The Magpie Is Related to:
- Black-Billed Magpie
- Oriental Magpie
- Yellow-Billed Magpie
Animals in the Same Biome:
Sources:
- Mirror-Induced Behavior in the Magpie (Pica pica): Evidence of Self-Recognition (https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov)
- Aggressive interactions influence cognitive performance in Western Australian magpies (https://royalsocietypublishing.org)
- Response to intruder number is related to spontaneous quantity discrimination performance in a wild bird (https://academic.oup.com)
- Group size affects spontaneous quantity discrimination performance in wild Western Australian magpies (Gymnorhina tibicen dorsalis) (https://link.springer.com)
- Heritability of cognitive performance in wild Western Australian magpies (https://royalsocietypublishing.org)
- Social Interactions Are Related to Cognitive Development in Western Australian Magpie Fledglings (https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com)
- Ontogenetic evidence of socially learned call sequences in Western Australian magpies (https://royalsocietypublishing.org)
- 'The thieving magpie'? No evidence for attraction to shiny objects (https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov)
