Magpies are even smarter than you think

August 19, 2024 1:11 PM

Magpies are even smarter than you think. (5 minute video from the Australian documentary series, The Secret Lives Of Our Urban Birds). This is about the Australian magpie Gymnorhina tibicen from the family Artamidae, which is not related to the European magpie, which is from the family Corvidae - basically when British people invaded Australia, they went "that bird is black and white, which reminds us of black and white birds back in England, so let's call it a magpie!"
posted by chariot pulled by cassowaries (15 comments total)

Timely, just read The Axeman's Carnival on the advice of many MeFites. Love your animal updates, thanks for another good one!
posted by table of malcontents at 1:22 PM on August 19 [1 favorite]

Came for the cool experiment, stayed for the funny magpie stories in the comments!
posted by lianove3 at 1:23 PM on August 19

The park would be perfect magpie habitat if it weren't so full of magpies.

I wonder if magpies have reached the point of being able to identify scientists and make good guesses about how the food source will be changed.
posted by Nancy Lebovitz at 2:09 PM on August 19 [2 favorites]

I read that they are better at problem solving that Donald Trump.
posted by Repack Rider at 2:48 PM on August 19 [2 favorites]

that bird is black and white, which reminds us of black and white birds back in England, so let's call it a magpie!"

The same is true for birds in North America: robins, sparrows, warblers, and vultures are all unrelated to European robins, sparrows, warblers, and vultures.

Not to be confused with Australasian robins and warblers, which are related to neither.

Interesting that the Corvidae magpies also occupy the "very very smart bird" niche that these Artamidae magpies are in.
posted by mcstayinskool at 2:53 PM on August 19 [9 favorites]

Carn the pies!
posted by L.P. Hatecraft at 4:27 PM on August 19 [1 favorite]

To explain L.P. Hatecraft's reference:

"Carn" is Aussie slang for "Come on!"
"The Pies" are the "Collingwood Magpies", an Australian Football League team.

Go Doggies. Woof.
posted by chmmr at 5:26 PM on August 19 [2 favorites]

We've known how smart magpies are for a long time.... [SLYT]
posted by Chuffy at 7:12 PM on August 19

"earth fact time. there's a play behaviour in birds that a paper calls co-lying, which is essentially where they lay side by side on the ground together. australian magpies do it, and there's been some evidence to suggest ravens do it, too."

https://www.tumblr.com/themesopelagiczone/728778678754050048/earth-fact-time-theres-a-play-behaviour-in-birds?source=share
posted by sebastienbailard at 9:32 PM on August 19 [3 favorites]

that bird is black and white, which reminds us of black and white birds back in England, so let's call it a magpie!"

The same is true for birds in North America: robins, sparrows, warblers, and vultures are all unrelated to European robins, sparrows, warblers, and vultures.

Not to be confused with Australasian robins and warblers, which are related to neither.

It's amusing that convergent evolution results in convergent naming.

Also American Robins look so little like European Robins it's embarrassing on the same level as confusing America for India.
posted by srboisvert at 4:53 AM on August 20 [3 favorites]

when British people invaded Australia, they went "that bird is black and white, which reminds us of black and white birds back in England, so let's call it a magpie!"
Australians got the cooler magpie (in a tight fought competition) - but Brits, with the Pica pica magpie have the better song.
posted by rongorongo at 5:09 AM on August 20

Coincidentally, just a few hours after this post, Peach Pit announced their fourth album "Magpie" to be released on October 25th, with a single dropping this Friday! I cannot contain my excitement!
posted by lianove3 at 5:24 AM on August 20

I knew Magpies were smart. I didn't know Australian Magpies were different from others. Magpies are cute and interesting to watch as they go through the motions of defending their territory (didn't know that either) in a park, but they are also terrifying and dangerous when they turn into swoopy bois in the spring. Even more terrifying if you have previously acted aggressively toward them eg by waving your arms around in a vain attempt to stop them swooping, because they will remember your face for years and keep attacking you based on your previous behaviour!.
posted by dg at 5:39 PM on August 20

Loved reading Gisella Kaplan's book about magpie behaviour. I love learning about the incredibly smart communication skills all our native birds have; in fact, so much so it's one of the driving forces behind my debut novel. Birds representing the breakdown of communication in a family; gothic horror.

And yes, Axeman's Carnival is on my tbr pile - I heard the author at the Brisbane Writers Festival this year and can't wait to dive into her work. So many other authors have recommended this one to me as related to my wip.

(Also: I am loving the regular Oz bird representation on the blue! I'm an armchair expert on them, and love to encounter others who are obsessed as much as me. Thanks so much cassowaries!)
posted by chronic sublime at 5:03 PM on August 23

This explained why the eyes don't work.
posted by jeffburdges at 4:18 PM on August 24