birding-aus

injuries to Magpie beaks

To: Gary Wright <>, John Leonard <>, birding aus <>
Subject: injuries to Magpie beaks
From: Alex Randell <>
Date: Wed, 22 Feb 2012 10:06:49 +0000
Hi John & Gary,

I've come across them with increasing frequency over the years and have only 
ever seen the bill grow back once.  I've seen a couple of birds where the break 
is to both upper and lower and right back to the bone. I was told by my 
wildlife vet I that the problem is caused by a dietary deficiency (lack of 
calcium) but I'd like to know, if this isn't just supposition, what the full 
story is.

Alex Randell 
________________________________________
From:  
 on behalf of Gary Wright 

Sent: Wednesday, February 22, 2012 7:49 AM
To: John Leonard; birding aus
Subject: injuries to Magpie beaks

Hi John

We have a magpie which frequents our yard with only half of the top
mandible.  It appears to be in peak condition and has been with us for at
least a year, perhaps longer.  I assumed that it had been caused by
deficiency in diet when young, but that was only a guess.

Gary

On 22 February 2012 16:42, John Leonard <> wrote:

> Over the years I have seen several Mapgies with injuries to their beaks.
> Usually this is an upper mandible completely broken off at the base.
>
> 1. How do they do this?
>
> 2. What happens, does the beak regrow, can they survive? The ones I have
> seen haven't seemed to be starving, and one I observed for a few weeks and
> it didn't decline during that time.
>
> --
> John Leonard
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