21 Facts about Magpies

Anonymous
Anonymous

Hi there

Some facts about Magpies

Source: http://www.jacobijayne.co.uk/21-facts/

1. Magpie numbers in Britain and Ireland have quadrupled in the last 35 years.

2. The increase has been particularly noticeable in suburban areas.

3. During the winter the magpie’s diet is largely vegetarian, and in the summer predominately ground invertebrates. Only during the spring, when feeding its young, does it become a major predator, raiding the nests of songbirds for eggs and young.

4. Opinions differ widely on the impact of magpies on nesting birds. Most studies suggest that their impact is minimal, but where magpies have been removed, breeding success of songbirds has improved.

5. One of the explanations for the magpie’s booming population is thought to be the amount of carrion from road kills available today, providing a year-round food source.

6. Magpies can be caught legally in Larsen traps, a live-capture trap that uses a decoy bird to lure others into the trap. Many thousands are caught and killed in this way every year.

7. A male magpie, attracted to a female decoy, will attempt to court and mate with her unless his mate accompanies him, in which case their joint response is aggressive.

8. Magpies have always been surrounded by superstition, and there are many versions of the poem that begins:

 

             One for sorrow, two for joy…

 
9. There was an old rural tradition of raising one’s hat to a magpie; now few people wear hats, the tradition has largely died out.

10. A magpie looks much bigger than it is: the tail makes up half the bird’s length. Its average weight is only about half that of a wood pigeon’s.

11. They can be found throughout almost all of mainland Europe, from southern Spain and Greece north to Lapland, but are absent from many offshore islands, including Sardinia, Corsica, the Balearics and Iceland.

12. Pairs usually remain within their territories, but non-breeding birds wander more widely in small gangs or bands.

13. They are non-migratory, and it’s rare for one to ever travel more than 10km from where it was hatched.

14. Though most nests are built in trees, where there are no suitable trees they will build on the ground.

15. A typical nest incorporates a roof, and may have two entrances, but some populations build open nests.

16. Long-eared owls often adopt old magpie nests.

17. The date of the first egg being laid is largely the same throughout Europe, with the peak period mid to late April.

18. In southern Spain great spotted cuckoos often lay their eggs in magpie nests.

19. In Britain magpies have relatively few enemies apart from man, but in some parts of Europe they are the favourite prey of goshawks.

20. Communal winter roosts may hold as many as 200 birds.

21. The roosting birds have usually departed before sunrise.

Regards

Kathy and Dave

  • Thank you gaynorsl I'll take a look tomorrow when I'm not as sleepyConfused
  • Thank you gaynorsl I'll take a look tomorrow when I'm not as sleepyConfused
  • Hello Karen,   I am adding two website links which may help you with the care of the magpie or seeking further advice from a "Corvid" expert.   I have included a link to HelpWidlifeUK  in case you need a rehabber to take the bird on where you fill in brief details of bird, location so it can highlight rescue centres in your area of the country.     Having said this a lot of rescue and independent rehabbers are inundated with causalities so it can prove difficult sometimes to find the right help.    

    Sadly, attacks by bird upon another bird, even same species do happen -   maybe this magpie has strayed into the territory of other magpies and fights/disputes between birds can result occasionally in injury which seems cruel but it is part of nature.     Fights can be over food source at this time of year although there should still be enough natural food to be found including worms, insects.     

    There will be advice about care on THIS LINK which may assist you but very often wild birds need specialist care and this magpie could need expert Corvid care;     magpies are part of the wider corvid group of species which can include birds like jackdaws, crows, ravens, rooks, jays, choughs, etc...     Corvid rehabbers have the expert knowledge to treat these species and if the magpie has received penetrating injury where it breaks the skin then it may need antibiotics to safeguard against infection.       Sounds as if you have done a sterling job so far but if you need further advice then please look at the links I have given you.      

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    Regards, Hazel 

  • I've always heard and seen loads of Magpies where I live but noticed that I haven't seen one over last few months and assumed they must have migrated until reading this post..  Just wondering where they've gone