The physical traits that allow for identification of the gender of adult White-backed magpies are located on their napes and mantles which are key areas to observe in the White-backed magpie. Males will have a nape that is snow-white in color. Females will typically have a motley pattern of gray shades and markings.
Males are white around the back of the neck, upper tail and shoulders. Females are grey coloured in these places. Magpies brown eyes and white colourings are the best way to tell them apart from other black and white birds like the Butcherbird or Pied Currawong.
The size of the Australian Magpie can vary from 38-44 cm with a wing span of 76 cm. Mostly black and white in colouring, males are distinguished by white on the back of its neck, upper tail and shoulders, while females are often grey in these parts.
Magpies have black heads, a strong black bill, dark brown eyes, and black legs and feet. Male and female magpies are similar but the female is smaller. Juveniles resemble the adults except the plumage is duller and less glossy and the tail is shorter.
When magpies have formed an attachment they will often show their trust, for example, by formally introducing their offspring. They may allow their chicks to play near people, not fly away when a resident human is approaching, and actually approach or roost near a human.
However, as the well-known rhyme shows, it is generally only seeing a lone magpie that is supposed to bring bad luck. We're not entirely sure why this is but we do know that magpies often mate for life so seeing a single magpie may mean it has lost its mate and therefore the chance of it bringing bad luck is higher.
Interesting fact: It's true, magpies remember your face. They have excellent recall for faces and very long memories. So, if you've been swooped before, or even if you just look like someone they swooped last year, you're likely to get the same treatment again.
The diet of a magpie
Their main diet in summer is grassland invertebrates, such as beetles, flies, caterpillars, spiders, worms and leatherjackets. In winter, they eat more plant material, such as wild fruits, berries and grains, with household scraps and food scavenged from bird tables or chicken runs, pet foods etc.
Befriending a magpie
If you have magpies around your home or neighbourhood that you would like to befriend, the first step is to let them see your face from a distance, trying to make eye contact with the bird. Gisela says you could also try and temp them with a little magpie-friendly food to show you aren't a threat.
Steer Clear: Foods to Avoid Feeding Magpies
Bread, for example, should be avoided as it lacks essential nutrients and can even cause birth defects in nestlings. Another food to be cautious about is plain mince, which contains high levels of phosphate that can result in calcium loss from magpies' beaks and bones.
Magpies belong to the order of birds called Passeriformes or perching birds. When they perch on a branch or bar, their feet automatically lock firmly around it. They only sleep in nests when they are incubating eggs in order to keep the eggs warm. There's much more protection under your roof in winter.
About a year and a half ago we rescued a baby magpie that was laying in an alley with dead birds all around. After a few months Pie the magpie became imprinted on us and started talking and mimicking us.
The female magpie builds the nest herself and sits on the eggs. Swooping, by males, is the most common way of scaring off intruders (whether it is humans or other animals).
Mate for life, but they're adaptable — if a male magpie dies, his place will quickly be taken by another male, who will raise the chicks as his own.
Magpies live in territorial groups. At the top of the social structure is the permanent territorial group, large enough to defend its territory without depleting resources.
They believe the magpie will never inject any sort of bad luck if the person keeps the bird happy or shows utter respect. People are told that he/she should salute or wave at a magpie to show respect. Some also believe that greeting the bird also helps to fend off bad luck.
Magpies feed on small insects and animals that live on, or just under, the surface of the ground. A favourite is the scarab beetle, which is a major pest of garden lawns.
As with all superstitions, there is always a loophole. While some believe one magpie is an omen of bad luck, many people would look around to spot another magpie to negate the bad luck, or they would greet the singular magpie with a “Good morning, Mr Magpie.
"They suffer from high cholesterol if fed too much processed stuff," says Associate Professor Darryl Jones, deputy director of Environmental Futures Centre at Griffith University. "If you have to feed them, the best things are dry and wet cat and dog food."
I think magpies and other members of the corvid family are clever opportunists and will seek out live prey especially if they look vulnerable; I have seen a magpie attack a rat which looked ill, also saw one take an adult Great Tit when it stunned itself after hitting a window and seen Magpies attack their own species ...
Note: When feeding stone fruits or fruits with seeds such as Apples, Plums and Grapes - seeds must be removed! While fruit and vegetable are fantastic for your bird, they do not serve as a complete diet and should be supplemented with other dry foods such as seeds, nuts and pellets.
'Young birds and subordinates will bow down and shake their tail feathers when a dominant male or female is near,' Connelly explains.
It can be hard to watch for magpies as they often swoop from behind, but they are much less likely to swoop if they are being watched directly. If you maintain eye contact with a magpie for as long as possible, it will be less likely to swoop. If you are on a bicycle, dismount.
Forget fake eyes and spiky helmets — if you want to avoid being attacked by magpies, just make an effort to be friends with them.