Magpie behavior

[fras444]

The last week while working at a reserve in Taupo.
I have noticed the magpies here actively chasing small passerines, I have read that magpies have been known to supplement their diet with various prey. Is this just "normal this time of year" territorial behavior, or are these birds actually using hunting techniques and preying on these small birds?? I havnt seen a magpie capture a bird yet.
Was wondering if this is quite common throughout the magpie population or are there just select individuals or populations that actively pursue winged prey

[Hypno]

Living in rural Canterbury and having had a couple of pet magpies to observe i rarely saw them pursue other passerines, when i did observe it was towards Blackbirds, and to me it appeared they were not trying to catch and kill as they would quickly give up the chase. I did however find my pet bird eating very Juvenile sparrows on a few occasions that jumped the nest early, so imo preying on other birds for most magpies is opportunistic and or they are chasing another bird out of the area for play or territory. Further to this i also found my pet bird eating tadpoles out of the pond it could reach, more of a smart bird that picks the low fruit and is lazy.

[fras444]

That is real interesting many thanks for that my my mate.
Need to ask you..... what's it like having pet magpies??? I have always thought they are incredibly intelligent birds

[Hypno]

I found them very playful and interactive as a pet. Is like having a puppy as they chase string flies, feathers and hang upside down off your sleeve. I was able to teach them to whistle, say hello or play dead. Great as company when gardening. Downside was they poo on the hour and the males could be aggressive. one Male i had would be aggressive to select people who at some point teased him and he would forever recognize them as an enemy, he would chase and nip their ankles, just the sight of him the magpie does a taunt snapping the bill making a loud click sound readying to nip an ankle, he was wing clipped so could not fly.

I had a neighbor who;s pet female magpie would build a nest every year and tenaciously defend and incubate the infertile eggs.

[Steps]

"one Male i had would be aggressive to select people who at some point teased him and he would forever recognize them as an enemy, he would chase and nip their ankles,"

You will find most pets, even cockatoos, and captive kakariki will do the same.
The other is male pets including birds will tend to be a bit more intolerant of male ppl if attached to their owners, and visa versa.
Never been a fan of clipping wings...birds are like cats, if treated well familiar with local land marks.. outside they go do their thing every now and then, but always return. We have had several house parrots over the yrs and had a flock of around 40 kakariki escape a large flight after a huge storm...lost 2 kakariki due to local cats.

[andrewcrossland]

I see magpie chase small passerines fairly regularly in Canterbury. If you watch them closely you'll see them occasionally catch smaller birds and kill them.

[les]

i have seen them walking the rows in the vineyard where i work and finally figured out they are listening for young finches being fed by their parents .Then they raid the nests and eat the young chicks.

[pithius7]

Good question, same as Hypno for the answer, they are opportunists and as you suggested yourself, that type of behavior tends to be seasonal and linked to territory protection, rather than predation.
My daughter and I have a pet magpie, they are a real crack-up. Real clever and ultra loyal.
As for the comments about "chasing/ eating passerines". They did a large study of magpie predation in the UK and found that it is the exception to the rule that Magpies will predate other birds/ chicks. Their diet is primarily ground dwelling bugs, beetles, worms...even in vineyards Their hearing is acute, they wait above ground listening for the movements of worms etc underground. That is why you often see them pacing up and down fields parks etc
Hope that helps

[Parula]

Just need to mention that UK magpies are not closely related to ‘Australian Magpies’.