The young use noise as a survival strategy—they are loud by design. They yell at their parents to feed them. They yell at each other. They yell to scare off predators.
The noise they make is often hungry young calling for food from their parents. Both crows and magpies are resourceful and learn quickly. They are able to mimic the calls of other birds.
Fledglings will often be taken care of by a whole community of magpies. When they see a predator like an owl or a cat, they'll chime in with squawking to try and drive away the danger. It's normal behaviour, Bajer said.
And throughout the rest of the world magpies are not always seen as so unlucky: China – a singing magpie will bring good fortune and is a symbol of happiness and good luck. Korea – magpies deliver good news and invite good people into your life.
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.
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.
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.
Magpies often become more aggressive as the chicks become older, but swooping usually stops once the young have left the nest. A magpie's defensive behaviour can range from a non-contact swoop with or without beak snapping, through to pecking, dive-bombing and sometimes front-on attacks from the ground.
In China, seeing a magpie signifies you will have good luck and happiness, while in some regions, it's considered a sacred bird. Magpies are notoriously attracted to shiny objects, having a reputation for stealing jewellery.
Magpie Rhyme Meaning
The meaning and interpretation vary between cultures, but generally is as follows: One for sorrow, two for joy: This is the most common superstition associated with magpies in the UK. Seeing one magpie is considered bad luck, while seeing two is believed to bring good luck.
An old British rhyme predicts a person's fate on the basis of the number of magpies they've seen: “One for sorrow, two for mirth, three for a funeral, and four for birth.” Some say that if you fail to salute a magpie you've walked past, bad luck waits patiently behind the next corner.
Songs. Black-billed Magpies are very vocal birds. Their two primary vocalizations are a harsh, ascending call and a raspy chatter.
It may be possible to deter them by playing a tape of a crow or rook distress call. These distress calls, however, could deter other birds too, not just magpies. Also, please be considerate of your neighbours when playing tapes.
They also give shorter “ch-tak” calls and higher-pitched squeaky 'chuik' phrases. Soft, warbling mechanical songs are also occasionally given by this species which often include squealing sounds and sometimes mimicry of others bird calls.
Magpies are 'like dogs'
"They will form very long friendships, like dogs," she said. "They will introduce their young [to you] and they will be the most charming birds. "Even during the breeding season you can come close to them because they know you'll do no harm."
In 2009, a researcher from the University of Colorado published detailed observations of four magpies at a funeral alongside the corpse of a fifth bird, and concluded that the birds were displaying humanlike emotions.
The common magpie is one of the most intelligent birds—and one of the most intelligent animals to exist. Their brain-to-body-mass ratio is outmatched only by that of humans and equals that of aquatic mammals and great apes.
Bad Luck. It's bad luck to shoot a magpie. It's bad luck to see a single magpie flying during the Spring months as it signifies cold adverse weather conditions. If a fisherman sees a magpie first thing in the morning then all the fish will get of the hook for the rest of the day.
Magpies are birds known for their bold personality and intelligence. They are also well-known for their calls and songs. Many birds have a song or a few calls, but magpies chatter, whistle, trill, and warble. These birds have even been known to mimic sounds around them such as wind chimes or a dog's barking.
Their weapons of choice are a closed beak or open claws, or they bite and leave two fine cuts where the skin has been pinched and sliced.
Like dogs, magpies seem to sense fear and will capitalise on it by pressing an attack. In a strike attack, a magpie swoops, hovers momentarily and then strikes. The fluttering of wings as the bird hovers is usually sufficient warning for adults and older children to duck their heads and avoid the attack.
Magpies can remember faces and hold grudges. Researchers in Brisbane, Australia have found that magpies will remember facial features and target those individuals. The research involved an individual in a mask, coming close enough to nests to make the magpies feel threatened.
Remember, magpies are simply trying to protect their territory. Stay calm, protect your face and walk away quickly. A magpie may become aggressive towards people because it has been harassed in the past. Please do not throw things at magpies or chase them.
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.
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.