I have two questions that are puzzling me and I think they may be linked. I first noticed huge quantities of moss being pulled up from the lawn by magpies. this has never happened before in my garden. I then noticed a magpie with no tail or wing that seems to be living in the garden. He looks very healthy, seems to have a mate, and and is the fastest runner out. He seems to leap into the trees fluttering his one wing. I assumed he wouldn't survive but is still running around after two weeks. How could he have survived what looks like a cat attack, and how can he look so fat and healthy when he can't fly properly
In truth if this bird has lost a wing I doubt he/she would last very long with such a disability. Especially if an infection sets in. However, if the bird is managing to feed and appears to have some company at least it has some quality of life for the now. Its good to hear the bird is still full of energy. are you certain this bird isn't just a recent fledgling and the other(s) is perhaps a parent? certainly they will initially be rather poor at flying (yet almost adult size) and have few tail feathers...
Magpie nests are quite complicated builds tending to be loose, bulky with an outerlayer which forms a roof making them often appear round in shape. inside the main part of the nest is mud (ocasionally dung) bow shaped twigs which are then lined with finer twigs and grass and another layer of lining which tends to be made of grass, mosses, hair, feathers, leaves and other soft material. sometimes they have two door nests as well. So it sounds as though you're lawn is ideal source of bedding..cheeky I know but all goes to show how adaptable and intelligent magpies really are.
Thanks Lloyd. The magpie has definitely lost a wing.
The amount of moss it pulled up was about 2 wheelbarrow loads - and that's just what was left on the lawn. We thought maybe it was some kind of nest-building instinct gone haywire because of losing his wing.
He seems to be living in our apple tree which has a lot of ivy on it for hiding in. Could he have been born with one wing? He does seem remarkably healthy. Fascinating!