Lifestyle
Magpie near the feeder
Magpies prefer to live separately from their relatives. Sometimes the birds gather in groups of 6-8 birds, but this does not last long - until the young animals mature up to a year and separate from the family. The rest of the time, magpies live in pairs. Bird nests are placed at a distance of 100-300 meters from each other. Such close proximity allows birds to promptly warn each other about danger.
Lonely magpie on a branch
Magpies move across the surface not in steps, but in jumps. They jump on both legs at once. When moving, the bird's tail is raised up. The birds take off from their place. The flight of the magpie is smooth and maneuverable. During the flight, the bird opens its wings, straightens its tail, points its head forward, and bends its paws. In the air, the bird prefers to glide; its flight speed is 35-40 kilometers per hour.
It is known that magpies are cunning, dexterous and agile birds. If there is not enough food, then the birds look for food in vegetable gardens and farmyards.
Photo of a magpie high on a tree
Birds can easily outwit a pet and steal something edible from its bowl. Sometimes birds forage for food in groups of 2-3 birds. While two magpies are distracting a chicken or a dog, the third one is feeding. Then the roles change.
Magpies are curious, but at the same time cautious, prudent birds. It has been noticed that these birds are able to build logical chains, remember information, and easily avoid traps. Birds do not openly steal: they first make sure that nothing threatens them, and only then they grab the thing or food they like and immediately fly away.
Pensive Magpie
Magpies are known for their passion for shiny things. These birds drag candy wrappers, sparkles, pebbles and glass sparkling in the sun into the nest. Ornithologists cannot say what motivates these birds in such collecting. But one thing is clear: the magpie’s ability to collect everything shiny formed the basis for the phrase “like a magpie,” that is, “a person who loves everything shiny - like a magpie.” True, experiments in recent years have made it possible to doubt that the magpie deliberately chooses only shiny objects. Researchers say that if a magpie is offered a choice of things, including one that is shiny, the bird will not always choose that one.
Reproduction
Female and male magpies
At the end of February, magpies begin their breeding season. Magpies gather at old nests and begin repairs. If the nest is severely destroyed, the magpies build a new one, but in a different place.
Nest
In the photo - magpies make nests
Magpies make nests on thin trees or bushes at a height of 3-6 meters on the ground. Despite the fact that the bird's nest seems accessible, predatory animals cannot reach it due to the fragile support on which the magpie's house rests.
A magpie's nest is a complex architectural structure. Unlike the nests of other birds, the magpie's has a roof. From a distance, the dwelling looks like a large ball assembled from dry branches. The frame of a magpie's nest is built from strong rods intertwined with each other. The roof of the bird is made from thin and flexible branches.
Photo of magpie eggs in a nest
The entrance is located in the side wall. The bottom of the bird's nest is smeared with clay or damp earth - such material will make the home even stronger. On top of the dried earthen floor there is a layer of leaves, thin young branches and roots. The female lays eggs on top of the woody layer.
Magpie chicks
Small magpie chicks
The female magpie lays 6-8 eggs. Magpie eggs look small, the shell is greenish with a brown spot. Incubation is done exclusively by the female. After 18-20 days, tiny naked chicks are born. Both parents are involved in heating and feeding the young. Adult birds take turns bringing worms and caterpillars to the hungry chicks. In the first days of life, the cubs have an increased appetite, so the chicks constantly demand food, squealing around the area. By the age of one month, the chicks have grown enough to look for food on their own. At this time, the magpies already master the technique of flight, but continue to stay close to their parents for at least another two months. By the following spring, the young birds separate from their parents and start a family.
Magpie is a migratory or wintering bird
A magpie took off from a tree branch
. Magpies are not migratory birds. They never fly away from the nesting site for a long time. In the autumn, wintering magpie birds gather in flocks and fly to the outskirts of cities and villages, as it is easier to find food there.
Magpie in flight
Despite the fact that magpies are sedentary birds, they still make periodic migrations within the perimeter of their habitat. As the sun sets, magpies living in the same area fly to a common roost. Magpies wait out the night in large flocks in windless, secluded bush thickets near water bodies. Neighboring birds gather for a mass roost in the same place during the autumn-winter period. Some of them fly to their “apartment” many kilometers from their permanent place of residence. Daily migrations stop in the spring, with the onset of the nesting period.
Kinds
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The genus Soroki includes three species:
Pica hudsonia - American magpie
An American magpie walks through the grass
Appearance: body length – up to 50 centimeters, wingspan – 90 centimeters. Externally identical to the Common Magpie.
Distribution: Found in the USA and Mexico.
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Features: feeds on rodents and cacti. The nest builds without a roof. The bird is semantically related to the Californian magpie and forms a single subgenus with it.
Pica nuttalli - California magpie
California magpie resting on a branch
Appearance: black and white plumage, yellow beak and eye ring.
Distribution: The magpie lives in the California valley, hills and mountains.
Features: California magpie is susceptible to viral diseases. 15 years ago, West Nile virus killed half of the entire population.
Pica pica - common magpie or European magpie
The European Magpie looks thoughtfully into the distance.
Appearance: a bird with traditional black and white plumage.
Distribution: the common magpie inhabits Europe and Russia, excluding the northeastern regions.
Features: the magpie is a typical representative of the bird family, inhabiting the cities and villages of Russia.
What are male magpies called?
A male magpie has found food for himself.
Like most wild birds, the “magpie” has a single name without distinguishing between female and male. Therefore, to indicate gender in Russian, the phrases “female magpie” and “male magpie” are used.
The magpie chick is called “magpie”, and in the plural – “magpie”.
Appearance
Photo of a magpie on a stump
The magpie has a slender, elongated body; long fan-shaped tail; short, narrow, pointed at the end wings; small head and thick, curved beak. The paws are long, four-toed, the fourth toe points backward, which allows the bird to cling tightly to branches and maintain a stable position.
Magpie walks on green grass
The plumage of the magpie is two-colored: the head, neck, chest and back are blue-black. Violet and green shades are noticeable in the sun. The long tail is black. The belly and shoulders are white. Sometimes the wings along the border are also painted white. The eyes are black, the beak is dark gray, the legs are gray-brown.
The color of young birds also contains white and black, but the plumage is not as bright and contrasting as that of adult magpies. In spring, birds begin to molt. At this time, magpies look faded, some of the feathers fall out and patches of skin are visible here and there. By the beginning of summer, birds grow new dense matte feathers of rich, uniform color.
Photo of a magpie on a stone
The plumage of magpies of both sexes is identical, so it is almost impossible to distinguish a female magpie from a male. However, there are differences in size between birds: the male magpie is one and a half times larger than the female.
Habits and behavioral characteristics
Any change in the environment can lead to increased caution on the part of the magpie. We can say what magpies do when they notice danger. At such moments, the bird begins to scream loudly, which warns its relatives of impending trouble.
The behavior of this bird in the nest and in flight is relatively calm, and when it gets into potential trouble, it makes sounds that may resemble chirping and squeaking.
If a magpie sits on a branch, it characteristically twitches its tail. This behavioral reaction is unusual for other birds.
If we compare the magpie with other representatives of the raven family, then it has a fairly mobile and active way of life. A bird of this type rarely stands in one place for a long time. Almost always she jumps from branch to branch, looks into other people's nests and flies vast distances in search of delicacies.
The magpie avoids close contact with people. When the first frost occurs, these birds make mass migrations to city gardens and parks, and they make only single flights to the forest park area.
Voice of the Magpie
Magpie calls
When communicating with each other, magpies use chirping sounds consisting of a series of syllables “chuck-kak-shak” or “shack-shack-shack”. The loud voice of a magpie is a warning signal. If the tempo of the chirping is fast and sharp, it means that danger is looming over the flock of birds. Hearing the warning cry, the birds fly away. A prolonged cry means that there may be a predatory animal nearby and the birds need to be on alert. The magpie's voice is ringing, hoarse and loud.
During the mating season, magpies use various intonations and sound forms in conversations with their fellows. So, for example, to indicate territory, the magpie calls “kia-kia” or “kick-kick.” Protecting the nest from uninvited guests, the magpie loudly shouts “chakr-chakr”, “chikr-chikr” or “chara-chara”.
Magpie on the edge of a stone
To attract a partner, the bird makes quiet melodic sounds in different tones. Rhythmic singing can become arrhythmic, a low timbre is replaced by a high one, a soft trill alternates with abrupt menacing exclamations.
Chicks demanding food squeal in a shrill voice “pirr-pirr”. Young birds that have already separated from their parents are characterized by their own singing. When communicating with adult birds, they use two-syllable calls “yshiyak”, “chyuk” or “chew-yok”.
The chicks grow up and learn to fly
Magpies, which people took as chicks and raised in their homes, become tame. They fly away for a short time, after which they return each time. Forty is taught various funny tricks and how to pronounce words.
Young birds are very active. According to Konrad Lorenz, they will never allow a cat to catch them. Magpies instantly react to the appearance of any threat.
Gerald Durrell describes the growth of his two birds, who were nicknamed Magpies in the house.
By the time the grown chicks were covered in feathers, Larry had become so accustomed to them that he had completely forgotten about their supposed criminal tendencies. Fat, smooth, talkative Magpies sat on the edge of their basket and expressed innocence with their whole appearance. Everything went well until they started learning to fly. In the first stages of training, Magpies simply jumped off the table on the veranda and, desperately flapping their wings, flew through the air for about fifteen feet, and then plopped down on the stone tiles. Their courage grew along with the strength of their wings, and soon they were able to make their first real flight, flying around the house. Their view was simply wonderful. Long tails sparkled in the sun, wings whistling through the air as the birds swooped down, flying over the vines.
