The chicks grow up and learn to fly
Magpies, which people took as chicks and raised in their homes, become tame. They fly away for a short time, after which they return each time. Forty is taught various funny tricks and how to pronounce words.
Young birds are very active. According to Konrad Lorenz, they will never allow a cat to catch them. Magpies instantly react to the appearance of any threat.
Gerald Durrell describes the growth of his two birds, who were nicknamed Magpies in the house.
By the time the grown chicks were covered in feathers, Larry had become so accustomed to them that he had completely forgotten about their supposed criminal tendencies. Fat, smooth, talkative Magpies sat on the edge of their basket and expressed innocence with their whole appearance. Everything went well until they started learning to fly. In the first stages of training, Magpies simply jumped off the table on the veranda and, desperately flapping their wings, flew through the air for about fifteen feet, and then plopped down on the stone tiles. Their courage grew along with the strength of their wings, and soon they were able to make their first real flight, flying around the house. Their view was simply wonderful. Long tails sparkled in the sun, wings whistling through the air as the birds swooped down, flying over the vines.
Signs associated with magpies
Photo of a magpie soaring in the sky
The image of a magpie is found in the cultures of many nations. For some, this bird represents happiness, wealth and success, for others it is a harbinger of bad news and trouble.
The magpie gained notoriety back in the days of Noah's Ark, when the bird did not fly onto the ship with all the other animals, but remained on the roof. The bird showed a complex character, not obeying other people's rules. The magpie is credited with negative qualities - a thief, a liar, a chatterbox. Many sayings are associated with this black and white bird.
Beautiful magpie among green grass
This is how gossipers are called “cracking like a magpie,” and when talking about where a person learned about some news, they say “a magpie brought it on its tail.”
Despite the numerous unpleasant characteristics, most of the signs associated with the appearance of these birds still have a positive context.
- A bird flew onto the balcony - a sign that does not bode well. The house will be calm, no scandals or quarrels.
- A magpie flew into the house and chirped - good news awaits the family.
- A magpie flew into the yard or settled in the garden - the owners will face financial difficulties.
- A magpie circling over the house is a sign that signifies the onset of a dark streak in life.
- A magpie sat on the window, it jumps and chirps - a person will find himself in the center of gossip and intrigue.
- Two magpies are sitting in front of the house - guests should be expected.
- A flock of magpies flying overhead foreshadows a wedding.
- It is a bad omen if a bird knocks on the window - it brought bad news, perhaps one of the relatives will die soon.
- The magpie knocked on the window and flew away - a sign promising that all adversity will bypass the house.
Interesting Facts
Photo of a magpie looking into the distance
- Magpie - able to recognize herself in the mirror.
- The entrance to the magpie's nest faces south to keep the home warmer.
- The magpie builds up to 8 nests, and then chooses the best one from them.
- Extra nests are needed to distract predators.
- In the Middle Ages, church ministers believed that magpies personified evil spirits. In the 14th century, Metropolitan Alexei even forbade birds from flying into the city for this reason.
- In China, the magpie is revered and considered the bird of happiness.
- In Rus' it was customary to call talkative women magpies.
What are male magpies called?
A male magpie has found food for himself.
Like most wild birds, the “magpie” has a single name without distinguishing between female and male. Therefore, to indicate gender in Russian, the phrases “female magpie” and “male magpie” are used.
The magpie chick is called “magpie”, and in the plural – “magpie”.
Magpies are capable of onomatopoeia
The magpie's voice is clear and sharp. The call is a loud chirping sound. Chirping, various extraneous sounds and even screeching are woven into the song.
Magpies raised by humans are gullible and importunate. This intelligent bird is very sociable. Bram describes a case where a large macaw parrot could not learn to speak for several months until its cage was placed next to the cage of a tame magpie, which did not shut up for days. At first, the macaw began to imitate the chattering magpie, then he was able to pronounce individual words, learned new ones and called his master’s children by name.
Darrell's Magpies also learned to reproduce different sounds.
Confined to one place, the Magpies could now devote a lot of time to their studies, which consisted of a solid mastery of Greek and English and skillful reproduction of natural sounds. In a very short time they learned to call all members of our family by name and played Spiro with exceptional cunning. After waiting for him to get into the car and drive a little away from the house, the Magpies would rush to the corner of the cage and shout: “Spiro... Spiro... Spiro!...”, forcing him to hit the brakes and turn back to find out who was calling him. The words “Go away!” brought them much innocent joy. and “Come here!”, which they shouted alternately in Greek and English, to the utter confusion of the dogs. Another trick that amused them endlessly was the deception of the poor, unfortunate chickens, who spent their days rummaging in the ground among the olive groves. From time to time, a maid appeared on the threshold of the kitchen and began to make squeaking sounds interspersed with some strange loud hiccups. This was the feeding signal, and as if by magic, all the chickens were at the kitchen door. As soon as the Magpies mastered this call, they completely tormented the poor chickens.
Kinds
The genus Soroki includes three species:
Pica hudsonia - American magpie
American Magpie strolling through the grass
- Advertisement -
Appearance: body length – up to 50 centimeters, wingspan – 90 centimeters. Externally identical to the Common Magpie.
Distribution: Found in the USA and Mexico.
Features: feeds on rodents and cacti. The nest builds without a roof. The bird is semantically related to the Californian magpie and forms a single subgenus with it.
Pica nuttalli - California magpie
California magpie resting on a branch
Appearance: black and white plumage, yellow beak and eye ring.
— Advertising —
Distribution: The magpie lives in the California valley, hills and mountains.
Features: California magpie is susceptible to viral diseases. 15 years ago, West Nile virus killed half of the entire population.
Pica pica - common magpie or European magpie
The European Magpie looks thoughtfully into the distance.
Appearance: a bird with traditional black and white plumage.
Distribution: the common magpie inhabits Europe and Russia, excluding the northeastern regions.
Features: the magpie is a typical representative of the bird family, inhabiting the cities and villages of Russia.
“The Motley Hooligan,” or Magpies Beginning to Robbery
Magpies are famous robbers. They are not considered social birds. Konrad Lorenz compares them to a hardened criminal in a civilized human society. He notes that they do not have the kind of restraining regulators that are so attractive in the behavior of jackdaws.
The stable phrase “thief magpie” is due to the fact that magpies actually drag a variety of objects towards them. Some (threads, pieces of fabric) are for use in nest construction. Others are for fun. Those people who had magpies living in their houses noted that magpies more often steal items that people use (glasses, watches, cosmetics, buttons, etc.). At the same time, they are clearly amused, seeing what a commotion begins when searching for stolen things. Magpies do not disdain a variety of shiny objects.
Darrell's family had more than once conflicts with the Magpies who carried out the robbery.
Climbing the hill, Larry, to his horror, saw one of the Magpies on the windowsill and screamed loudly at it. She sounded the alarm, the second bird immediately flew out of the room, and they both fluttered into the magnolia tree, giggling loudly, like boys who had been scared off during a raid on an orchard. The magpies combed the room like a Secret Service agent looking for stolen plans. Sheets of printed manuscripts and blank paper were scattered all around on the floor like autumn leaves. Almost all of them were decorated with a cute pattern of pecked holes. Magpies could never resist paper. The typewriter sat on the table like a gutted horse in the arena after a bullfight. The tape had been torn out, and the keys were smeared with bird droppings. The entire carpet, bed and table were white under drifts of paper scraps. The magpies apparently suspected Larry was a drug smuggler and fought heroically with the can of soda, scattering its contents among the rows of books so that they now resembled a snow-covered mountain range. On the floor, on the table top, on the manuscript, on the bed and, especially on the pillow, an unusually picturesque pattern of paw prints was painted in red and green ink, as if each bird had knocked over the ink of its favorite color and was trampling on it. The bottle of blue ink, not so bright, remained untouched.
Magpie at home
A man holds a magpie in his hand and feeds it.
A wild bird like a magpie can become a pet. These birds quickly get used to humans and adapt to the surrounding conditions. Fed by humans, adult magpies recognize their owner by sight, become tame, feed from hands and do not fly away from him for long.
Magpie chicks at home
You can only tame a magpie that fell into human hands as a chick. Magpie cubs are easy to feed, as these birds are omnivores. Homemade food is suitable as food - fish and meat, bread, fruits and vegetables, berries and nuts. In order not to harm the fragile body, it is better to give food raw, without using any spices. Two-week-old chicks eat up to ten times a day, menstruation - three to four times. You need to feed the magpie in small pieces. Sometimes you can give cottage cheese and eggs. It is strictly forbidden to give poultry pork and white bread. Poultry needs vitamins, especially in the autumn-winter period.
An impudent magpie tries to steal food from a child
Magpies love to take a bath - by bathing, the birds cleanse their feathers and skin of parasites. This must be remembered when arranging an enclosure or cage for your pet. By the way, many magpie keepers do not limit the life of birds to a cage and allow their pets to move freely around the house. However, according to the observations of zoologists, the bird feels more comfortable in a cage and behaves calmer than when it lives in an open space.
What do magpies eat?
Magpie flies with prey in its beak
Magpies feed on food of animal origin. They are indiscriminate in their food and feed on all the small animals that come their way. In spring, magpies feed on caterpillars, worms, and beetle larvae; in summer - all kinds of insects; In winter, magpies feed on food waste. When there is a shortage of food, birds eat cereal seeds, bread crumbs, sunflower seeds, and the fruits of various trees. Adult magpies sometimes hunt small rodents and lizards. They kill their victims with a blow from their powerful beak.
Magpies are known predators of other people's nests. Where the magpie family lives, other small birds usually do not live, since the magpies simply eat them. In spring and early summer, magpies plunder the nests of passerines and waterfowl. They feast on the eggs and chicks of sparrows, ducks, coots, quails and partridges.
Two magpies are eating on a tree branch
Magpies cause a lot of trouble to rural residents. In search of food, birds fly to farmyards and attack chickens and ducklings. Magpies often steal chicken eggs. It is extremely difficult to catch magpies stealing, since these birds behave only in cases where they are not in danger. Magpies steal eggs from the chicken coop while the chickens are feeding. In a few minutes, forty manages to crack a chicken egg and drink it right “at the crime scene.” Many farmers ask the question: “what to do if a magpie steals eggs?” Birds can be scared away from the yard by a stuffed animal in the form of a person or all kinds of rattles and scarecrows (magpies are afraid of noise).
Magpie is a smart bird. When full, she will not throw away the remaining food, but will hide it in a secluded place. In case of hunger, she will remember her reserves. The bird never forgets about its hiding places; its intelligence allows it to quickly find hidden food.
Magpies eat grains
At home, magpies eat leftover human food, chicken and beef, fish, vegetables and fruits. Magpie chicks feed on worm and beetle larvae, small caterpillars, flies and grasshoppers.
Why was the bird called magpie?
Magpie on an iron fence
Magpie was named so for the sounds this bird makes. In the ancient Slavic dictionary, the word “welding” was used to define this bird, a derivative of “sverchati” - that is, “cricket” or “cricket”. As you know, the magpie makes a characteristic chirping sound - “chirping”.
Features of character and lifestyle
Photo: Magpie in flight
Magpies live in small flocks of 5-7 birds, less often alone. Group living is very beneficial for them from a safety point of view. The magpie warns of the approach of enemies or any suspicious living creatures by chirping, which other birds and even animals, such as bears, have learned to understand. That is why, when hunters appear, animals often run away only when they hear a magpie. The peculiarity of magpies is that they are paired, and form pairs for life.
Two birds always participate in the construction of nests. The nest is laid in a spherical shape with an entrance in the side and an adjacent clay tray. Clay and hard branches, along with leaves, are used to build walls and roofs, and branches are specially used for the roof. The insides of the nest are lined with straw, dry grass, roots and scraps of wool. During the breeding season, one pair can build several nests, but in the end they choose one. Abandoned nests are then inhabited by other birds, for example, owls, kestrels, and sometimes animals, for example, squirrels or martens.
Despite its sedentary lifestyle, compared to other corvids, the magpie is a very mobile and active bird. It is characterized by daily movements. She rarely stops for a long time in one place and constantly jumps from one branch to another, flies over long distances, searches bushes and trees in search of other people's nests and food. Leads a purely diurnal lifestyle.
The magpie has a good memory, and is also considered one of the most intelligent among all birds. Although she is very curious, she is also very cautious and able to avoid traps. The bird easily learns, masters new skills and quickly adapts to a changing environment. Zoologists have also discovered elaborate sequential actions and social rituals in magpies.
There are suggestions that magpies are even familiar with the expression of sadness. It is well known that these birds are partial to shiny objects, which they steal from people every now and then or pick up on the roads. It is interesting that thefts never occur openly, and before stealing an object, birds always first make sure that they are not in danger.
Interesting fact: today the magpie is the only bird that is able to recognize itself in the mirror, and not think that there is another individual in front of it.
