Mimicry by Magpie

["Philip Veerman" <>]

Hi Frank,

 

I do not have Gisela Kaplan's book on the magpie but I note that it has not been favourably reviewed in the journals. It is certainly correct that "Mimicry is extremely widespread amongst Australian birds" (actually it is vocal copying rather than true mimicry) although if the book says that "Unlike lyrebirds, magpies do not usually mimic inanimate objects, like mobile phones, etc." then she is certainly wrong, as lyrebirds do not usually mimic inanimate objects. This is a very rare occurrence if it occurs in nature at all. I only know of one documented case (the captive one in Healesville sanctuary featured on the Life of Birds documentary). Indeed lyrebirds mostly learn their mimicry from other lyrebirds.

 

Philip