Magpies are part of the crow family, known as Corvidae. Corvidae is a part of the larger genus; Pica. The magpie is considered one of the most intelligent animals in the world and one of the only birds that can recognize itself in a mirror. Magpies are found in the temperate zones of Europe, Asia, and western North America.
What do magpies eat?
Magpies eat insects such as beetles, flies, caterpillars, spiders, and worms.
“What do magpies eat” is mainly categorized as insects such as beetles, flies, caterpillars, spiders, and worms. During winter, what do magpies eat is more plant-based; as when it’s cold they will eat wild fruits, berries, and grains. Depending on their location, what do magpies eat can even be defined as scavenged scraps.
In urban areas, they have been known to forage through human garbage and eat food put out for birds and household pets. Occasionally, magpies will also eat carrion; the carcasses of deceased creatures and they have also been known to hunt small birds and mammals, like mice, vole, and young rabbits known as kittens.
During mating season, what do magpies eat changes even more. They have been observed eating eggs and the young of other species of bird. When there is an abundance of food, magpies will hoard any surplus to consume at a later time. They do this by digging a small hole in the ground with their beak, placing the food within, and covering it with stones, leaves, or grass.
Do Magpies collect things?
Contrary to popular thought, magpies do not steal trinkets or collect things that shine. In fact, studies have shown that magpies are actually afraid of bright objects. Research suggests that the reason humans think magpies collect shiny objects is because if a bird is seen with a bright object it is noticed more than if they were just holding less eye-catching items, like twigs or leaves.
Magpies are quite aggressive birds when they are nesting, and have been known to attack people that unknowingly enter their territory. During the short 4-6 weeks of the nesting calendar, magpies may swoop down at anyone that passes too close to their nest, in an attempt to defend their young. Very occasionally a magpie may even hit the head of a person with their beak or claws.
What do Australian Magpies like to eat?
Australian magpies are not related to the magpies that are found in the rest of the world. What do Australian magpies like to eat is similar to what do magpies eat. They both generally feed on insects like bees, wasps, and beetles. The Australian magpie will also eat small mammals, frogs, lizards, and scavenge on carrion and human scraps.
Are Magpies good luck?
Magpies are considered good luck in Great Britain. There is a common folk rhyme about the luck of seeing magpies, which is popularly sung in the north of England. It goes: “One for sorrow, two for joy, three for a girl, and four for a boy!”.
This means that seeing just one magpie can be considered bad luck, but if you see two you will have good luck, seeing three means a new baby girl will come into your life, and to see four means that the birth of a boy is on the horizon.
So, what do magpies eat? Magpies eat insects such as beetles, flies, caterpillars, spiders, and worms.