canberrabirds

magpie playing dead

To: 'Gordon' <>, 'Philip Veerman' <>, 'Graham Gall' <>
Subject: magpie playing dead
From: Alison Rowell <>
Date: Sat, 29 Oct 2022 08:04:41 +0000

Feather lice presumably prefer the temperature and the humidity under closed wings. I’ve seen this behaviour often and assume the bird is attempting to kill lice or get them to jump ship by temporarily overheating and drying out its feathers. It certainly looks as though the bird has chosen the warmest spot available.

 

This reference suggests the same: Hot, Bothered, and Parasite-free: Why Birds Sun Themselves | Audubon

Alison R

 

From: Canberrabirds <> On Behalf Of Gordon
Sent: Saturday, 29 October 2022 1:36 PM
To: Philip Veerman <>; 'Graham Gall' <>
Cc:
Subject: Re: [Canberrabirds] magpie playing dead

 

I don’t think it is ‘anting’ as described by Graham as there are no ants observable in the locations the magpie lays and the bird is perfectly still with no dust bathing movements.

 

Cheers

Gordon

 

From:
Sent: Saturday, 29 October 2022 1:24 PM
To: ; m("iinet.com.au","gordonmca");"> 'Gordon'
Cc:
Subject: RE: [Canberrabirds] magpie playing dead

 

The word “anting” is (I would suggest) best applied to the birds using ants. Otherwise it is telling interpretation that might not be correct. But it is also used as a general term. The photo and description appears to be just sunning behaviour, that magpies often do. (As do many other bird species). It is not sick or taking a nap. Very likely though that the behaviours and the words are all sort of achieving the same thing.

 

Philip

 

From: Canberrabirds On Behalf Of Graham Gall
Sent: Saturday, 29 October, 2022 12:49 PM
To: Gordon
Cc:
Subject: Re: [Canberrabirds] magpie playing dead

 

Yes it’s ‘anting’ Gordon. 

 

Description

Anting is a maintenance behavior during which birds rub insects, usually ants, on their feathers and skin. The bird may pick up the insects in its bill and rub them on the body, or the bird may lie in an area of high density of the insects and perform dust bathing-like movements.

 

Sent from my iPhone

 

On 29 Oct 2022, at 12:31 pm, Gordon <> wrote:



Can someone tell me what this magpie is doing? We have a couple of friendly magpies around our house that we regularly feed. I have noticed recently that a magpie (I am not sure if it is the same one) will flop on the ground, as in the attached photo, for about 10 minutes and then get up and fly off. It does this in different spots in the garden but always in the sun. Sometimes it will just lean against the brick wall with its wings down. Is it sunbaking or taking a nap? I hope it isn’t sick.

 

Thanks

Gordon McAllister

 

magpie playing dead.jpg--
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