The magpie, or European magpie, or common magpie, is a bird of the corvidae family. The magpie is an intelligent bird. They inhabit all of Europe. It is absent only on some islands of the Mediterranean Sea. It also inhabits part of the coastal territory of Morocco, Algeria, and Tunisia in northern Africa.
The main habitats are field groves, forest edges, and gardens. The magpie avoids settlements in high mountains, treeless plains, and dense forests. Willingly the magpie settles near humans.
On land, the magpie usually moves in threes, but can also walk in a gait characteristic of corvids. It moves very skillfully in the crown of a tree. The magpie’s flight is undulating and planing.
When a magpie chirps
The magpie often calls, making characteristic loud, hoarse sounds – talking to relatives or noticing danger. Most often, a magpie squawks – this is a sound signal of alarm and serves to protect the area. That is why the animal world always listens when a magpie squawks, because a cautious and alert magpie is the first from a height to warn other animals on earth about the appearance of predators in the sky or on the ground.
To seduce a partner, magpies use a quiet song. It can be rhythmic or arrhythmic. Often combines soft trills and high whistles. It depends on the time and the bird itself. Some birds imitate other animals.
Magpies are usually sedentary. They live mainly in parks, gardens, often near human buildings. They avoid dense forests and mountains.
Magpies are pair birds. A partner is chosen in the first year of life, and after two years the pair begins to build a nest and raise offspring. Magpies build several nests, only one of which is “working”. The nests are spherical in shape, built of branches. The female lays 5-8 eggs in April-May, and incubates them for 17-18 days. They can often be seen in a small flock of up to 5 birds. Usually this is an adult pair with their chicks. The pairs are very brave: they will protect their chicks and their territory from other magpies at any cost.
Magpie diet.
The magpie is an omnivorous bird. It feeds on both animal and plant food. The magpie looks for food on the ground – insects, snails, spiders. Sometimes she manages to catch a small mammal or lizard.
Magpies have a varied diet. Magpies feed on various insects, seeds of wild grasses, grains of cereal crops. Their diet also includes insects and small rodents, lizards. Magpies also often destroy bird nests. And sometimes they even steal bones from dogs. But they are not even afraid to steal food from people.
Magpies are considered one of the most intelligent birds
The magpie is considered one of the most intelligent birds. The white magpie has been found to have elaborate social rituals. For example, expressing sadness, grief.
The magpie is the only known non-mammal that can recognize itself in a mirror, unlike a parrot, which mistakes its own reflection for another parrot. Magpies can also draw. Can count to 4. Magpies are very fond of silver objects and carry them to their nest. For which they received the nickname the thief magpie.
Anecdote of the day from the site funster.top:
A magpie sits on a branch, surrounded by a crowd of forest animals. She says:
– Today I will tell you two pieces of news: good and bad.
Everyone tensed up.
– Good news – I found a shiny ring!
The animals sighed with relief:
– And the bad one?
The magpie squinted slyly:
– I won’t tell who had it! 😄