| Description:
Seen from a distance,
the Magpie appears to be a simple two-tone, black and white
bird. However, the black plumage is more subtle in colour
than it first appears, with a blue-green iridescent sheen
evident at close range. In the open it flies, rising awkwardly,
with quick flaps and glides - like a ragged kite. Among trees
the species moves confidently, reflecting its agility. On
the ground the tail is often held high as the bird 'kangaroo-hops'
along. The raucous, cackling, call is given frequently, reflecting
the intensely competitive and social nature of this species.
Young Magpies have a washed-out appearance and short, stubby
tails.
Ecology & Behaviour:
For many people the Magpie is
a villain, responsible for the widespread decline of songbirds.
Research examining the question of whether Magpies have been
responsible for songbird decline has failed to find any evidence
to support the notion that they are to blame. It is true that
while Magpie numbers have tended to increase, those of many
of our songbird species have declined. These increases and
decreases have occurred over different time periods and in
different parts of the country, which suggests that the general
patterns are a coincidence and not cause-and-effect.
At a local level, Magpies can
sometimes be a problem for nesting birds; in fact in many
gardens they are probably the second most important predator
after the domestic cat. Mind you, in the absence of wild mammals
like the Weasel, many garden birds probably may still suffer
less predation than they would experience in natural woodlands
and farmland hedgerows.
Like other members of the Crow
family, Magpies can be very interesting to watch. They are
social birds with a degree of intelligence that has enabled
them to adapt to a changing environment. You only need look
at the number of Magpie nests alongside many of our new road
networks to see how they have learned to exploit the carcasses
of animals killed by road traffic.
Garden BirdWatch links:
Magpies are one of the main species
monitored by Garden BirdWatch.
The results from Garden BirdWatch
show that reporting rates have been consistently around 50%
since 1995, with no sign of an upward trend in their use of
gardens.
A 'Focus On' article on the Magpie
appeared in issue 13 of the Bird
Table magazine. Garden BirdWatch participants can download
a copy of this article from the participant only pages.
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