One of the pleasures of crossing the Cascade Mountains to eastern Washington is seeing magpies. I’ve read that they are detested by many in England. How strange (challenged by a bird’s intelligence?). Great shot. Love the black and white popping out from the soft colors.
From the photo, they look a bit smaller and w/ different markings than the kind that are super common in Melbourne. Lots of people here don’t like the, but I rather enjoy their warble, and find them pretty pleasant. (The young ones do demand food from adults even after they are pretty well full grown in an annoying way. Perhaps they are a bit too human like in that way.)
From the photo, they look a bit smaller and w/ different markings than the kind that are super common in Melbourne.
The Eurasian magpie (Pica pica) is a member of the crow family (Corvidae); the Australian magpie (Gymnorhina tibicens), whatever the superficial similarities, is not. It belongs to a different family, which includes butcherbirds and currawongs.
Lots of people here don’t like the, but I rather enjoy their warble, and find them pretty pleasant.
Dr. H @ 8–I’ve had a resident Coopers in my neighborhood for many years and have some great shots. But I once complained to an ornithologist friend of mine that it’s still unfortunate that I find feathers and remains around my bird feeders. He said “Well, when you feed the birds, you feed ALL the birds.” :-)
JD asks if I have ever been “swooped” by a magpie. I’ll admit that I almost want to be now, as I have heard so much about it, but despite the fact that I live around lots of them, I never have, even when there are birds with youngsters around. (I even had to rescue a youngster out of the rain gutter of my apartment – the parents were squawking like mad, and the young bird couldn’t get out of the rain gutter, so I put on a thick coat, gloves and hat, for fear of the supposedly dangerous birds, and… the parents just flew away and waited until I got the young one out of the gutter.) I have seen videos of it, and I’ll admit that it looks like most people are over-reacting to me, and are certainly more scared that seems warranted, but I have never had the pleasure myself.
{ 13 comments }
Alan White 11.29.20 at 4:39 pm
Lovely–I’m a big-time birder and have tons of shots of them.
Dr. Hilarius 11.29.20 at 8:58 pm
One of the pleasures of crossing the Cascade Mountains to eastern Washington is seeing magpies. I’ve read that they are detested by many in England. How strange (challenged by a bird’s intelligence?). Great shot. Love the black and white popping out from the soft colors.
bad Jim 11.30.20 at 4:36 am
Music to accompany the photo: Overture to The Thieving Magpie
Chris Armstrong 11.30.20 at 9:11 am
That’s my Christmas card sorted!
Matt 11.30.20 at 11:26 am
From the photo, they look a bit smaller and w/ different markings than the kind that are super common in Melbourne. Lots of people here don’t like the, but I rather enjoy their warble, and find them pretty pleasant. (The young ones do demand food from adults even after they are pretty well full grown in an annoying way. Perhaps they are a bit too human like in that way.)
Serge Brill 12.01.20 at 6:08 pm
Lovely pair of Bristols on that one! Say no more.
Tom Hurka 12.02.20 at 12:37 pm
Another song: Ian Tyson, “Magpie”
Dr.Hilarius 12.02.20 at 9:24 pm
Have been blessed with visits from a mature female Cooper’s hawk and an immature which is possibly one of her offspring. Fabulous birds. Photo in my yard (in the center of the city). https://www.flickr.com/photos/143137002@N06/50673360501/in/dateposted-public/
J-D 12.03.20 at 2:18 am
The Eurasian magpie (Pica pica) is a member of the crow family (Corvidae); the Australian magpie (Gymnorhina tibicens), whatever the superficial similarities, is not. It belongs to a different family, which includes butcherbirds and currawongs.
Have you ever been swooped by one?
John Quiggin 12.03.20 at 8:34 am
@9 For a month or two every eyar, it’s as if wolves are roaming the streets, and the council’s response is to put up warning singes.
Anonon 12.03.20 at 9:02 am
@2 a lot of dislike for magpies in the UK seems to come from folk memory: they’re considered to be ‘predators’ of newborn lambs and can attack sheep.
Alan White 12.03.20 at 3:48 pm
Dr. H @ 8–I’ve had a resident Coopers in my neighborhood for many years and have some great shots. But I once complained to an ornithologist friend of mine that it’s still unfortunate that I find feathers and remains around my bird feeders. He said “Well, when you feed the birds, you feed ALL the birds.” :-)
Matt 12.04.20 at 3:40 am
JD asks if I have ever been “swooped” by a magpie. I’ll admit that I almost want to be now, as I have heard so much about it, but despite the fact that I live around lots of them, I never have, even when there are birds with youngsters around. (I even had to rescue a youngster out of the rain gutter of my apartment – the parents were squawking like mad, and the young bird couldn’t get out of the rain gutter, so I put on a thick coat, gloves and hat, for fear of the supposedly dangerous birds, and… the parents just flew away and waited until I got the young one out of the gutter.) I have seen videos of it, and I’ll admit that it looks like most people are over-reacting to me, and are certainly more scared that seems warranted, but I have never had the pleasure myself.
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