birding-aus

Magpies singing at night

To: "'Peter Shute'" <>, "'Birding-aus NEW'" <>
Subject: Magpies singing at night
From: "Philip Veerman" <>
Date: Mon, 26 Sep 2022 19:51:40 +1000

I recommend that the answer to all these style of questions is: “because their parents did”. In other words, it is something in their genetic makeup and you can apply that, to most zoology questions of that style. It is something that has been done and survived well in their evolutionary history, giving some benefit. Indeed likely going back to whatever species the magpie was, before it was the current species. Evidenced in that the behaviour is something occurring in many birds, so is in the genetic makeup of many birds. As to what is the adaptive advantage of them singing at night now, well that is a different question and there are many possible answers. But easy to simply suggest that it is territorial behaviour, exactly as it is in the daytime (and why wouldn’t it be?), allowing the magpie individuals to signal to neighbouring groups that they are in the area, or whatever other message it sends. Sending vocal signals may well be more effective at night, as there are normally less competing sounds around.

 

Philip

 

From: Birding-Aus [ On Behalf Of Peter Shute
Sent: Monday, 26 September, 2022 5:20 PM
To: Birding-aus NEW
Subject: [Birding-Aus] Magpies singing at night

 

I have been asked to post this question:

'I gave a talk at my local library on Bird Watching.  I was asked 'Why do Magpies sing at night?'  I did not know.  Does anyone know?

David Robertson

Adelaide

 

Peter Shute

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