[Birdtalk] Sharpie vs. Magpie

[Jim & Beanie]

According to Sibley's, the Magpie weighs in at 6 oz, and the Sharpie at 5 oz.  Of course Sharpies vary a bit in size, but the Magpie is the bigger bird.   Funny, though I have seen magpies pester, many hawks and owls, even eagles, I have never seen a Magpie killed by a bird of prey.  They are aparently agile enough to outmaneuver the larger hawks, or maybe they have, "I taste awful", written all over them?

I had a sharpie and a magpie on the ground within two feet of each other just glaring at each other last week.  I went for the camera, but they had flown off.  

I think you are right about the Magpie trying for the food, when there is food involved.  Aside from that though, there seems to be some driving force to just pester the birds of prey and drive them out of the territory.  

Sure fun to watch them.  

Jim

http://donce.lofthouse.com/jamaica/magpie_0.jpg

  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: John Morgan 
  To: birdtalk 
  Sent: Friday, January 11, 2008 8:49 PM
  Subject: Re: [Birdtalk] Sharpie vs. Magpie


  This is a guesstimate of bird social behavior, since I've never had a bird tell me so.

  First reason I would guess the Magpies follow the Sharp-Shinned hawk is that hawks are such capable hunters. They don't have a lot invested in any one prey.....they'll leave their dinner to the Magpies at the slightest provocation when ganged upon. Magpies seem to think this is great sport to "make the Sharpie drop the food." Second reason I believe Magpies follow Sharpies is for gang status: he who buzzes the Sharpie the most or gets the closest wins. And so it was in my sighting. There was no food involved--it was just these two gangsta's following the Sharpie for the sport of it. But the Sharpie knew the game. He let the "brave" Magpie get separated from his homie, then the hawk attacked with ferocity! I seriously thought it ended in a kill. I did not see either bird come up after the diving chase went northbound into the next yard and below the level of the neighbor's 6' fence! ** And the second Magpie who was watching did not pursue! I believe he was too scared to save his buddy. It was awesome to watch! Never assume a Sharpie cannot take a Magpie. I think Sharpies must have a sense of arrogance about those annoying Magpies. "Why waste my time, not worth the trouble," is the attitude they seem to have. Magpies will definitely run like scared chickens when the Sharpie gets mad. Bully on the outside, chicken on the inside.

  **Twenty minutes later I peered over the neighbor's fence and saw no sign of either bird, nor any feathers. They must have ducked between houses below fenceline.

  Anyone ever see a Magpie heckle a Cooper's Hawk? Please share. I've never seen any bird heckle or follow a Cooper's.
  John
    ----- Original Message ----- 
    From: Jim & Beanie 
    To: Bird Talk 
    Sent: Friday, January 11, 2008 5:07 PM
    Subject: Re: [Birdtalk] Sharpie vs. Magpie


    Yesterday a Sharpie grabbed a small bird out front then lit in a tree.  It wasn't 30 seconds until a magpie came to heckle the hawk.  Then three more magpies came to join in the fun.  The hawk flew away.

    I see this everytime a hawk comes into the yard.  The Magpies just love to heckle them and will usually drive them off. I have never seen the Sharpie attempt to take the Magpie.  

    I once saw a Kestrel land on the back of a Magpie that was at the Kestrels nest box.  They both tumbled to the ground then both flew off.  The little Hawk apparently couldn't deliver a fatal blow to the much larger Magpie. 

    Today a Northern Shrike came to visit, but I didn't see any Magpies pestering it.  

    Magpies love to pester the Great Horned Owl and the Red-tailed Hawk.  In fact I have often discovered owls by noticing a bunch of magpies first.  

    Great Birding!

    Jim

      
      ----- Original Message ----- 
      From: Jeff Bilsky 
      To: Birdtalk 
      Sent: Friday, January 11, 2008 10:11 AM
      Subject: [Birdtalk] Sharpie vs. Magpie


      I just saw a Sharpie taking on a Magpie in my backyard! I can honestly say I've never seen that. They flew off still battling.

      Jeff Bilsky
      Jbilsky at gmail.com



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