Strange Magpie behaviour

[Beth Mantle <>]

Hi John,

According to Gisela Kaplan's book "Magpie: Biology & Behaviour of an Unusual Songbird" magpies are one of only a few avian species that engage in extensive and complex play behaviour.  Using objects as part of this play is very common, as is the "domination" play that you describe.  Like other animals, it is thought that playing is part of a young magpie's education in prey capture and handling, and social behaviour.  Play sessions can last for up to 10 minutes in duration, and anyone who has ever hand-raised a magpie can probably tell you how quickly they'll engage their humans into playing with them as well!

I can highly recommend this book for Australian Magpie enthusiasts and, of course, it is available from the COG sales desk for only $27 for members!

Cheers,

Beth

Beth Mantle
H: 02 6287 7860

M: 0407 174 427

E: 

On 21/11/2008, at 10:21 AM, John Leonard wrote:

I saw two Magpies foraging in grass this morning in the Canberra
suburbs. One had nesting material in its beak, it approached the other
one and put it down beside it. The other one then picked up some other
nesting material and offered it to the first one, but the first bird
angrily rejected it and attacked the second bird. The second bird then
rolled on to its back and let the first bird peck at it for a few
seconds, then they both walked away and continued foraging (not for
nesting material).

What was most interesting about this was that the birds were not a
male/female pair, or an adult and an immature, as you might expect,
but two males.

What's going on here?



--
John Leonard
Canberra
Australia
www.jleonard.net

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