6
Fascinating Facts About the Misunderstood Magpie
“...1. Magpies Don’t Like Shiny Things- They’re
Scared of Them
Magpies
have a reputation as thieves out to steal your shiny jewelry or take ornaments
from your garden, but new research shows that flashy objects probably repel
magpies...
Magpies
are capable of wrecking crops by digging for grain, berries & other food,
so along with other bird-scaring measures, placing shiny materials in fields
might deter magpies & keep crops safe from being upturned & trampled.
2. Magpies Will Eat Almost Anything, Including Bird
Eggs & Chicks
While
their natural diet is quite broad- including insects, small rodents, grain
& berries- magpies have been known to steal other birds’ eggs, & even
young chicks.
…magpies
have adapted… to suburban living, so they’ll often eat leftover food scraps...
3. Magpies Are Closely Related to Crows, Jays, &
Ravens
...
magpies belong to the bird family Corvidae, a group that includes crows,
ravens, rooks, jackdaws, & jays, as well… treepies, choughs, &
nutcrackers.
As
such, magpies are among the most intelligent family of birds recognized by
modern science...
4. Magpies Recognize Themselves in Mirrors
European
magpies have demonstrated the remarkable ability to recognize their own
reflections in mirrors, something that was once thought to be a defining
characteristic belonging only to humans...
...Scientists
believe that self-awareness in birds & certain mammals may be an example of
convergent evolution, in which unrelated species evolve particular
characteristics through different means...
5. What is a Group of Magpies Called?
There
are several names given to a group of magpies, but perhaps the most descriptive
is ‘a parliament’. The birds have earned this title from often appearing in
large groups in the spring, looking stately & cawing at each other.
6. To the End of the Tail
...While
they share some similarities with their corvid family, the magpies possess an
extremely long tail. In fact, a magpie’s tail is often roughly the same length
as its entire body.
Why
magpies have such long tails remains up for debate, but it may provide magpies
with the ability to make swift turns while in the air. This would allow the
birds to evade larger predators & make up for rather average flying
abilities.”
Steve
Williams
September
9/ 2017
care2.com
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