Magpie Behaviour

["Leo Berzins" <>]

Tobias,

 

Gisela Kaplan, in her book 'Australian Magpie. Biology and Behaviour of an Unusual Songbird', writes:

 

"Many, perhaps even most, mammals play. However, magpies belong to only a select number of avian species that engage in extensive play behaviour as juveniles and even into adulthood. Parrots and cockatoos have an extensive social and individual play repertoire but there are few other species, apart from some corvids with these traits. Magpie play behaviour is akin to parrot behaviour and, indeed, even to that of dog pups or young primates, involving social play (with another juvenile or an adult) and individual play. They roll around, breast bump each other, pull on wings, run after each other, hide, crouch, engage each other with legs, play fight, peck, grasp, jump and even play hide-and-seek."

 

and

 

"Play behaviour may also involve learning about social rank and perfect skills for dealing with social aggression and social bonding. Social hierarchies are established early in play fights. The submissive bird rolls over on its back and the others stand over it, sometimes, for good measure, jumping on top of the 'defeated' bird."

 

Hope this helps.

 

Regards,

Leo.

 

P.S. If you think your server is sometimes holding back canberrabirds mail, you can always check the latest messages on the archives at:

http://bioacoustics.cse.unsw.edu.au/archives/html/canberrabirds/