Behaviour Australian magpie

female, subsp. tyrannica, in flight



submissive juvenile

the australian magpie exclusively diurnal, although may call night, other members of artamidae. natural predators of magpies include various species of monitor lizard , barking owl. birds killed on roads or electrocuted powerlines, or poisoned after killing , eating house sparrows or mice, rats or rabbits targeted baiting. australian raven may take nestlings left unattended.

displaying walking gait

on ground, australian magpie moves around walking, , member of artamidae so; woodswallows, butcherbirds , currawongs tend hop legs parallel. magpie has short femur (thigh bone), , long lower leg below knee, suited walking rather running, although birds can run in short bursts when hunting prey.

the magpie sedentary , territorial throughout range, living in groups occupying territory, or in flocks or fringe groups. group may occupy , defend same territory many years. energy spent defending territory intruders, particularly other magpies, , different behaviours seen different opponents. sight of raptor results in rallying call sentinel birds , subsequent coordinated mobbing of intruder. magpies place either side of bird of prey attacked behind should strike defender, , harass , drive raptor distance beyond territory. group use carolling signal advertise ownership , warn off other magpies. in negotiating display, 1 or 2 dominant magpies parade along border of defended territory while rest of group stand little , on. leaders may fluff feathers or caroll repeatedly. in group strength display, employed if both opposing , defending groups of equal numbers, magpies fly , form row @ border of territory. defending group may resort aerial display dominant magpies, or whole group, swoop , dive while calling warn intruding magpie s group.

a wide variety of displays seen, aggressive behaviours outnumbering pro-social ones. crouching low , uttering quiet begging calls common signs of submission. manus flutter submissive display magpie flutter primary feathers in wings. magpie, particularly juvenile, may fall, roll on over , expose underparts. birds may fluff flank feathers aggressive display or preceding attack. young birds display various forms of play behaviour, either or in groups, older birds initiating proceedings juveniles. these may involve picking up, manipulating or tugging @ various objects such sticks, rocks or bits of wire, , handing them other birds. bird may pick feather or leaf , flying off it, other birds pursuing , attempting bring down leader latching onto tail feathers. birds may jump on each other , engage in mock fighting. play may take place other species such blue-faced honeyeaters , australasian pipits.

breeding

nest in banksia tree

magpies have long breeding season varies in different parts of country; in northern parts of australia breed between june , september, not commence until august or september in cooler regions, , may continue until january in alpine areas. nest bowl-shaped structure made of sticks , lined softer material such grass , bark. near human habitation, synthetic material may incorporated. nests built exclusively females , placed high in tree fork, in exposed position. trees used commonly eucalypts, although variety of other native trees introduced pine, crataegus, , elm have been recorded. other bird species, such yellow-rumped thornbill (acanthiza chrysorrhoa), willie wagtail (rhipidura leucophrys), southern whiteface (aphelocephala leucopsis), , (less commonly) noisy miner (manorina melanocephala), nest in same tree magpie. first 2 species may locate nest directly beneath magpie nest, while diminutive striated pardalote (pardalotus striatus) has been known make burrow breeding base of magpie nest itself. these incursions tolerated magpies. channel-billed cuckoo (scythrops novaehollandiae) notable brood parasite in eastern australia; magpies raise cuckoo young, outcompete magpie nestlings.

western magpie female (note scalloped back) collecting nesting material

the australian magpie produces clutch of 2 5 light blue or greenish eggs, oval in shape , 30 40 mm (1.2 1.6 in). chicks hatch synchronously around 20 days after incubation begins; passerines, chicks altricial—they born pink, naked, , blind large feet, short broad beak , bright red throat. eyes open @ around 10 days. chicks develop fine downy feathers on head, , wings in first week, , pinfeathers in second week. black , white colouration noticeable stage. nestlings fed exclusively female, though male magpie feed partner. australian magpie known engage in cooperative breeding, , helper birds assist in feeding , raising young. vary region region, , size of group—the behaviour rare or nonexistent in pairs or small groups.

a juvenile begs food father

juvenile magpies begin foraging on own 3 weeks after leaving nest, , feeding 6 months old. birds continue begging food until 8 or 9 months of age, ignored. birds reach adult size first year. age @ young birds disperse varies across country, , depends on aggressiveness of dominant adult of corresponding sex; males evicted @ younger age. many leave @ around year old, age of departure may range 8 months 4 years.

magpie in aggressive display , call



girl riding bike while being swooped territorial magpie


feeding

a grub extracted ground

the australian magpie omnivorous, eating various items located @ or near ground level including invertebrates such earthworms, millipedes, snails, spiders , scorpions wide variety of insects—cockroaches, ants, beetles, moths , caterpillars , other larvae. insects, including large adult grasshoppers, may seized mid-flight. skinks, frogs, mice , other small animals grain, tubers, figs , walnuts have been noted components of diet. has learnt safely eat poisonous cane toad flipping on , consuming underparts. predominantly ground feeder, australian magpie paces open areas methodically searching insects , larvae. 1 study showed birds able find scarab beetle larvae sound or vibration. birds use bills probe earth or otherwise overturn debris in search of food. smaller prey swallowed whole, although magpies rub off stingers of bees , wasps before swallowing.