Magpie nest. How do magpies build a nest? Magpie - migratory bird or not? Magpie lifestyle and nutrition

Slightly larger than a jackdaw, with elegant plumage. The head, wings and tail of the magpie are black with a greenish tint, and the belly, shoulders and separate places on the wings (sides) are white. The tail is long, stepped, it serves as a rudder during sharp movements on the ground and in flight.

Magpies prefer forest edges, bushes in floodplains, groves, gardens, parks, tree plantations along the railway track. At the end of February, before breeding, they are noisy, chasing each other, spreading their tails like a fan, and arrange dances. However, magpies do not fly very well, preferring to jump from place to place.

In March, magpies begin to build nests again or repair old ones. Their nest is usually placed in dense thickets at a height of 2-3 m from the ground. It is well hidden from prying eyes, it is composed of large twigs on the outside, and thinner twigs on the inside, intertwined with blades of grass and fastened with clay. The tray is also cemented with clay and is a solid deep bowl - a bed for eggs, covered with moss, soft grass, and wool. From above and from the sides, the tray is covered with a layer of prickly twigs that form a roof, giving the nest a spherical shape. The entrance to the nest is located on the side. Such a nest device protects the female sitting on the eggs, and subsequently the hatched chicks, from the invasion of predators.

Through the loose walls of the nest, the female can notice danger in a timely manner. A false nest is arranged close to the real one, in which the male is placed when the female sits on the eggs.

Magpies are omnivores. During the period of feeding the chicks, they exterminate many pests of the forest and fields: in the southern regions - the turtle bug, weevil, locust, and various mouse-like rodents; in the northern ones - larvae of May beetles (beetles), gypsy moth caterpillars, and various scoops. However, in the spring, magpies devastate many bird nests, drinking eggs and eating chicks. By this they harm arboreal insectivorous birds, as well as those living in open field larks, quails, partridges. In poultry yards in the early morning, when people are sleeping, magpie attacks chickens and ducklings. In addition, the magpie pecks watermelons, melons, apples in orchards, cucumbers on melons, causing damage to the crop.

In autumn and especially in winter, magpies stay near housing. They can often be found on the outskirts of cities and towns. Magpies usually do not penetrate into the depths of cities, as they are afraid of any noise. They gracefully move on the ground with small steps, lifting their tail up and shaking their heads with each step. Sometimes magpies begin to jump in big leaps, dragging their tail behind them like a train, leaving characteristic footprints and tail marks in the snow. The magpie also gives out a loud chirping, which expresses the anxiety of the bird when a person or animal approaches. The chirping of the magpie serves as an alarm signal for other forest dwellers.

Many sayings have developed among the people about the magpie, reflecting one or another of its features. Of these, the “white-sided magpie” does not require explanation, but the “thief magpie” is an epithet that is associated with the fact that the magpie is not indifferent to unfamiliar, especially brilliant objects. There are cases when magpies grabbed metal spoons, keys and other things and flew away with them, in order to then hide them somewhere in a secluded place. It is also clear why they say "talkative like a magpie" or "jumps like a magpie."

Despite the harm brought by magpies, we must not forget about the benefits, which are sometimes significant. So, for example, in addition to the extermination of many harmful insects and rodents, magpies eat juicy fruits, throwing seeds from the intestines with feces that have not lost their germination. In this way, they contribute to the resettlement of many plants (viburnum, mountain ash, raspberry, buckthorn, elderberry, blackberry, blueberry, blueberry, lingonberry, etc.) to new places, increasing the fodder resources of the forest. In addition, owls and small falcons settle in empty nests, exterminating mouse-like rodents (for example, red-footed falcon, kestrel), as well as great tits and field sparrows. By this, magpies indirectly contribute to the settlement of the area with useful birds. Finally, in our monotonous northern nature, magpies are a real decoration, so they should not be destroyed.

Magpies are not migratory birds, but they are distributed almost throughout the world.

2. The genus magpie combines many species, one of which is the European magpie.

3. The body length of the magpie is about 50 centimeters, and the wingspan is 90 centimeters. The tail of a magpie is longer than its body. In bright daylight, magpies look simply adorable - with long tails and iridescent play of color on feathers.

Magpie in flight

4. It is a myth that magpies are endowed with thieving habits: they are supposedly greedy for shiny objects that are stolen and then used to decorate nests.

5. In reality, magpies are not thieves, they are just curious. These birds show interest in various objects, and they do not give preference to shiny things.

6. Researchers subjected forty series of experiments to test their addiction to shiny objects and theft. They offered wild European magpies two piles of nuts. One of the slides was next to a bunch of shiny screws, rings, and square pieces of aluminum foil. Another hill was located near a pile of the same metal objects, but painted in matte blue.

7. The presence of foreign objects distracted the birds from feeding in both cases, but they did not show a markedly higher interest in shiny objects compared to simply colored ones. Only in two of the 64 tests did Magpie pick up a shiny ring, but after a short time lost interest in him.

8. The researchers concluded: it cannot be argued that magpies never steal shiny objects. But we have no reliable evidence that shiny things attract magpies more than any other birds.

9. The area of ​​the forty brain responsible for cognition has the same relative size as a similar part of the human brain.

10. The ratio of body weight and brain in magpies is very high, which is not surprising for a representative of corvids - the smartest birds on the planet. The ratio of body mass and brain in magpies is the same as in orangutans, chimpanzees and gorillas.

European magpie

11. The European magpie moves by bouncing.

12. Magpies can recognize a particular person not by smell or voice, but by face. But usually only domestic, tamed birds have this ability. Many corvids have this ability.

14. Magpies are omnivorous - they can eat both plant and animal food (insects, small mammals or lizards).

15. These birds bury excess food in the ground, and then they find these hiding places without any problems.

16. The nest of magpies has the shape of a ball with a small hole that serves as an entrance.

17. The entrance to the nest of magpies is always facing south, so that it is warmer in the dwelling.

18. Before having offspring, a magpie can build a dozen nests, in order to then choose one of them, the best. Extra nests will distract the attention of predators.

Magpie chicks

19. Chicks leave their nest when they are only 1 month old.

20. To protect their offspring, magpies prefer to spend the night in large flocks.

21. Magpies unite in groups to protect themselves from large predators and hunt other birds.

22. Magpies are one of the most intelligent birds that exist in nature. They have complex social rituals that, in particular, serve to express sadness.

23. In the XIV century, Metropolitan Alexy officially forbade magpies to approach Moscow - he believed that witches flew into the city under the guise of birds.

24. Sometimes these birds steal bones from dogs, and eggs and chicks from the nests of other birds.

25. Magpies do not like dense forests, and willingly settle closer to people.

26. Magpies are very sociable, and they are very fond of announcing the surroundings with a loud croak, sitting on a branch. Because of this croaking and general similarity, magpies are sometimes confused with ravens.

27. The sounds that magpies make are very sharp and loud, so people are usually not too happy to be in the neighborhood with a flock of these birds.

28. Pagan Slavs associated forty with evil spirits. According to legend, a witch, turning into this bird, could steal the moon, replace not born child in the womb with a frog or a broom, or to milk someone else's cow so that her milk is gone.

29. Magpies are also the only birds (and not mammals at all) that recognize themselves in a mirror - parrots, for example, consider their reflection to be another individual.

30. Life expectancy of magpies, as a rule, is 12-15 years, however, in exceptional cases, they can live twice as long.

31. Magpies lay 6-8 eggs at a time, which the female incubates for 18 days. Magpies start laying eggs earlier than other birds - in April and early May, sometimes even in March.

32. It is believed that magpies eat eggs and defenseless chicks of songbirds, which is why the populations of many birds are declining.

33. Magpies are indeed voracious hunters of songbirds, but there is no strong evidence that this somehow affects the number of the latter.

34.These results are consistent with data obtained by ecologist Tim Burkhead of the University of Sheffield in Britain. For many years he studied the behavior of magpies in the Rivelin Valley near Sheffield. Between 1966 and 1986 the number of magpies in the UK has been steadily increasing - about 5% per year. However, this fact did not show negative impact on the nesting success of any of the studied species of songbirds.

35. The Chinese consider the magpie a bird of happiness, bringing people good luck.

37. In Russian folklore, forty is more likely associated with the image of gossips and just talkative women.

38. Magpie - a symbol of Taiwan. There, this bird is called the long-tailed mountain lady or, more simply, the Taiwan magpie.

39. Thick-billed azure magpie, a member of the corvid family, is endemic to Taiwan and lives in mountainous areas at an altitude of 300 to 1200 meters.

40. In 2007, thick-billed azure magpies took part in the competition for the title of the national bird of Taiwan and took first place, ahead of another endemic to the island, the mikado pheasant.

Thick-billed azure magpie

41. Males and females of the thick-billed azure magpie outwardly practically do not differ from each other. Each of them is painted in dark blue, turning into purple, tones.

42. The black neck and chest, red beak, white markings on the wings and tail and rims around the eyes are the hallmarks of the Taiwanese magpie.

43. They unite in groups of six or more individuals and carelessly soar among the mountain vegetation, often lining up in a straight line.

44. Thick-billed azure magpies are monogamous. While the female incubates the eggs, the male forages and builds the nest.

45. Taiwanese magpies build their nests, similar to bowls woven from twigs, on the highest branches of trees or shrubs. Mating season is usually between March and April.

46. ​​In each nest, the female lays from three to eight olive-green eggs with dark spots and incubates them for 17-19 days.

47. Thick-billed azure magpies bravely defend their nests and do not calm down until the unexpected guest leaves home.

48. These birds are almost omnivorous: their menu includes snakes, rodents, insects, plants, fruits, seeds, and animal remains. Wild figs and figs are a favorite delicacy of Taiwanese magpies.

49. They do not throw away uneaten prey, but hide it on the ground, in fallen leaves or dry branches, so that later they will return for it.

50. As true representatives of the corvid family, thick-billed azure magpies have a hoarse voice and make loud and high-pitched sounds that sound like “kyak-kyak-kyak”.

Magpies are a group of birds from the corvid family, which includes representatives of 9 genera. Despite the fact that systematically these genera are not always closely related to each other, all species of magpies have a similar external structure, therefore they are united under one name. In total there are about 30 species of these birds. Among the corvids, jays and crows are closest to them.

Magpie (Pica pica).

The appearance of forty is very specific, thanks to which even a person inexperienced in ornithology can easily recognize them. Magpies occupy an intermediate position among representatives of corvids: they are larger than jays, but smaller than crows. Their body is streamlined, the beak is sharp, straight, with a barely noticeable bend of the mandible, the wings are of medium length, the paws are thin and relatively long. Grace to them adds a long tail with a blunt end. Its shape may vary. In most species, the tail has the same length throughout, in forest magpies it noticeably expands towards the end, and in the rocket-tailed magpie it has peculiar whirlwinds on the sides. The coloration of these birds is even more diverse. As a rule, in most species, the head and flight feathers of the wing contrast in color with the body and tail. Occasionally, on an almost monophonic body, small areas of bright color are noticeable. As for color, the whole gamut of shades is inherent in magpies; dark-colored birds are characterized by a metallic sheen of plumage. Sexual dimorphism is not expressed in them, males and females are outwardly indistinguishable from each other.

The California magpie (Pica nuttalli) differs from the common magpie in its bright yellow beak. Depending on the angle of incidence of light, its feathers can cast green, purple, blue.

Forty habitats are concentrated in the Northern Hemisphere, here they are found on all continents - in Eurasia, Africa and North America. The range of the common magpie is especially extensive, which covers the entire temperate zone of Eurasia (except for the Far East). The ranges of other species are much narrower, for example, the California magpie lives only in the California Peninsula, and the thick-billed azure magpie lives only in Taiwan. The range of the blue magpie is a mystery. It consists of two sections: one covers the Far East - Korea, China, Japan, Primorye, northern Mongolia, and the second is located ... in the extreme west of Europe, in Spain, and Portugal! So far, science has not found an explanation of how populations of one species were isolated at a distance of many thousands of kilometers.

Blue magpie (Cyanopica cyana).

But the habitat of all species is similar. Magpies prefer to inhabit forests different types- coniferous, broad-leaved, tropical jungle, and they live in dense thickets, and in parks, and in forest plantations and in light forests. In search of food, they willingly visit open spaces: the banks of rivers and lakes, wastelands, glades, fields and meadows. Some species of magpies stay alone for most of the year and only after breeding offspring form family groups, others, on the contrary, live in small flocks, which break up into pairs during the nesting period. All types of forty are sedentary and do not fly.

The Ceylon Azure Magpie (Urocissa ornata) is endemic to the island of Sri Lanka.

The nature of these birds is in many ways similar to other corvids. Magpies are very smart, observant and curious. They carefully monitor the situation around, sensitively react to its changes and immediately notify their relatives about this. Although in general magpies behave cautiously, they give their voice willingly. screams different types are very different: chirping, squeaking, shrill “kya-kya”, flute melody, croaking. Interestingly, not only representatives of their own species react to the voice of these birds, but also other birds and animals. For the inhabitants of the forest, these signals mean the proximity of a predator or a person, and at the sounds of a magpie voice, everyone tries to hide. Therefore, the saying that "the magpie brought news on its tail" is quite true. The mention of the tail is also not accidental. When the magpie sits, it often twitches its tail, which does not happen in other birds. In general, magpies are more mobile than crows, they jump briskly along the branches, their flight is easy, their movements are jerky. Ordinary magpies do not trust a person, unlike crows and rooks in winter, they do not massively migrate to cities, here they can only be seen in forest park areas. The belief that magpies steal shiny things is greatly exaggerated. An unusual object can only interest a bird if it feels safe and not disturbed; in another situation, it would prefer not to risk it.

The rocket-tailed magpie (Temnurus temnurus) is so named for its ruffled tail, reminiscent of fire from a firework.

Magpies feed mainly on animal food. The basis of their diet is insects (for example, beetles, locusts), their larvae and pupae, worms, slugs, snails, small frogs and lizards in the tropics. But as far as possible, birds try to supplement the diet with larger prey. During the nesting period, they actively search for and destroy the nests of songbirds: they drink eggs and eat chicks. Small birds, in turn, gather in flocks and attack robbers, so magpies try not to attract attention to themselves. In other seasons, they accompany large predators, look for carrion, pick up garbage, visit feeders. When looking for food, they show courage, turning into impudence. Often you can see how clever "gossips" fuss under the nose of a fox, an eagle, a bear.

Magpie busily approaches the Steller's sea eagle, butchering prey.

Black magpie (Ptilostomus afer) examining a wound on the body of a domestic goat.

Magpies nest singly or in colonies of 5-7 pairs. These birds are monogamous and remain faithful to their partner. Their nests are neat cups woven from small twigs and lined with grass, wool and feathers. The common magpie in the skill of building housing surpassed all other species. She weaves not a cup, but a ball with a side entrance, and one pair of birds creates several such nests. Eggs are laid in one, and the rest serve as spares or to distract predators. These birds have 3-7 eggs in clutch, incubation lasts 15-18 days. The chicks hatch naked and blind, fed by both parents, but the female flies to the nest more often. The matured chicks first flutter along the branches (at this time the parents feed them), and then wander along with the adults.

Grown up brood of blue magpie. Unlike adult birds, the main color of plumage in young birds is brown.

Forty have many natural enemies. They are hunted by eagles, sea eagles, falcons, hawks, large owls, eagle owls, wild cats. Nests can be destroyed by martens, and in tropical countries by snakes. However, magpies thrive largely due to their quick wits.

Green magpie (Cissa chinensis).

In cultures different peoples magpies occupied an unequal position. Among the Indians of North America, they were associated with the spirits of the forest, in East Asia they were highly respected and considered messengers of happiness. But in Europe, these birds did not develop relationships with people. Farmers disliked magpies because they picked up grain during sowing, and for hunters they were the worst of evils. After all, the chirping magpie will notify the entire forest of the appearance of a stranger, so the hunters simply killed them. With the advent of high science, this situation did not improve, scientists ranked forty as harmful because of their ability to destroy the nests of songbirds. In fact, the harm from these birds is offset by the benefits that they bring by eating harmful insects. But the symbol of Taiwan - the thick-billed azure magpie - was on the verge of extinction for a different reason. Its narrow range covers one of the most densely populated areas in the world, so this species suffers from a lack of habitats. In captivity, magpies are easily tamed, but keeping them as poultry is not practiced.

Thick-billed azure magpie (Urocissa caerulea) in flight.

Magpie is a conspicuous bird that draws attention to itself with its contrasting plumage.

Photo: magpie in flight.

What does a magpie look like?

Magpie has black with a metallic, green or blue tint feathers on the back, head and chest. All other parts of the body are covered with snow-white plumage. But every year in the spring and summer there is a molt, during which all the colors fade, acquire a grayish tint and practically merge.

In terms of size, females and males are almost the same, males do not exceed 240 grams, and females - 100 grams. The length of the bird from the tip of the beak to the tip of the tail is 50 cm, and the length from the tip of one wing to the tip of the other is on average 1 meter.

Chicks in color practically do not differ from adults. Young birds do not have pure white feathers, a metallic blue sheen is present only in the middle third of the wing. A little earlier, young magpies molt.

Photo: magpie in flight.


Photo: magpie on a branch.
Photo: look of a magpie.

Magpie Intelligence

Magpies are perhaps the most intellectually developed birds on Earth. They are able to show sadness; magpies have several social rituals. Some magpies are able to imitate the voices of other birds, animals, insects, pursuing their own goals. For example, magpies imitate the chirping of locusts as a decoy for this insect. Magpies are the only birds capable of recognizing themselves in the mirror.

Communication

Magpies have a very diverse language, consisting mainly of chirring and croaking sounds. The meanings of signals forty are very much dependent on the circumstances, the tempo of the signal, its length, loudness. So, a warning call is used by hens even in the absence of immediate danger, and by males only when one occurs.

Forty signals have a degree of emotionality, the more excited the bird, the faster and more intermittently it emits chirps. Accordingly, the reaction of fellow tribesmen also varies - at a high rate of chirping they fly away, and at a low rate they only stop.

The mating singing of magpies is individual, depending on the time and the specific magpie. It can be arrhythmic gentle trills, pipes, and, sometimes, even imitation of other animals.

In general, forty have a rather rich vocabulary. Marking the boundaries of their territory, the magpies call "kya", "kik" from the crowns of trees, the chicks, asking their mother for food, squeak "pirr", and the first years report to the old magpies "yshiyak". As you can see, for almost every case, the crows have their own signal.

Habits and reproduction

Magpies are sedentary, paired birds. Pairs are formed in the first year of life, the first offspring appear in the second year, after the nest is built. They always build several nests, from five to ten, but live in only one. In April, the female lays five eggs and incubates them for eighteen days.

It is not uncommon to see small, five-headed flocks chirping on trees - this is an adult couple and their chicks. Magpies honor their territory and, if necessary, staunchly protect it from other birds and even from some mammals.

Photo: a pair of forty.
A magpie drags a branch to build a nest.
Photo: Magpie collects materials for building a nest.

Magpie chick galloped along the shore of the lake. And adult magpies flew nearby, guarding him with a cry.

What do magpies eat

A hungry magpie is a casuistic phenomenon. Like most corvids, the magpie has a great range and dexterity in feeding. She can destroy the nests of other birds, eating eggs and even chicks, steal food from animals and humans, insects and even mammals are used. Magpies are omnivores. Their diet contains both plant and animal foods. Magpies cause some damage to agricultural land, pecking grain from the fields.

The powerful beak of a magpie is her faithful assistant in search of food. With it, she splits the shell, bones, tears off pieces of flesh from large prey, digs out larvae from the ground.

They bring magpies and benefit, destroying pests (weevils, bedbugs, locusts).

Photo: a magpie got a chick from another bird.

In autumn, magpies like to climb the trunk of a tree in search of insects hiding in the cracks in the bark.

Magpies and birds of prey

Magpies, like crows, when they see a bird of prey, such as a buzzard or sea eagle, try to drive it away.

The buzzard looks at the magpie.
The buzzard looks at the magpie.
Magpies chasing a buzzard, Golden Horn Bay, Vladivostok.
The Steller's sea eagle "swears" at the magpie that is harassing him.
Not every eagle can withstand the attacks of a nimble and impudent magpie.

The common magpie, at first glance, has a colorful black and white outfit, it would seem - nothing special. But look at her, what a beauty she is! Black head, back, wings with a bluish tint, tail with green tint, belly and stripes on the shoulders are white. It is important to walk, raising a long stepped tail, listens and looks around. Why shouldn't we enjoy it too?

Length 50 cm, weight 200 - 235 grams. She has a soft dense plumage, a miniature head with keen eyes and a strong beak. The legs are low, four-fingered, with curved claws. The tail is longer than her body, perhaps by which she is most often recognized. It lives in Europe, North Africa, North America.

Prefers to settle in forests, groves, parks, you can see it in the city. The forest mischief eats variously. In her diet are various, berries, seeds and grains. In summer, it destroys bird nests by eating eggs or small chicks. A clever prankster knows how to catch a lizard. Cunning thieves, for the sake of food go to all sorts of tricks and tricks. Approaching the dwelling of a person, a tidbit will be stolen from the gaping hostess.

The bird can make many sounds with which it communicates. They can hiss, snap, grunt, chirp. If you “talk”, then you can listen to her dialogues with different intonations for a long time. They sing rarely and for a short time, their singing can be heard in the spring.

This is a smart, cunning and cautious bird. During the molting period, and this happens in the middle of summer, it hides in the forest. Seeing a mangy bird with a short tail, it is hard to imagine that it is a magpie. Therefore, perhaps, she is so secretive during the molting period.

They lead a sedentary lifestyle. They live in small flocks, or singly, and by spring break up into pairs that form for life.

Successful couples often return to old nesting sites, repair or strengthen the nest. But they can also build a new one, there are even several of them, they will then choose which one is more suitable for them for laying eggs.

Birds build a nest from branches, twigs, giving the shape of a ball, making an entrance from the side. She fastens the base of the nest with clay.The female will lay her eggs in mid-April. Most often in a clutch there are 5 - 8 bluish-green eggs with a dark speck. Hatches them for 15 - 18 days.

The chicks that were born are very voracious, caring parents try to feed everyone. And so, day after day, they work tirelessly for 25 days, and the chicks grow and finally leave the nest. Having risen on the wing, the young will stay with their parents all summer long, learning the skill of cunning and agility, and then they stray into small flocks until next spring.