Part 6: A Bit of Knowledge About the Eurasian Magpie

Eurasian Magpies – The Clever City Dwellers

The Eurasian magpie (Pica pica) is one of the most striking and intelligent members of the crow family. With its shimmering black, white, and metallic-blue plumage, the magpie is instantly recognizable across both city streets and open countryside.

Curious, bold, and remarkably clever, magpies have adapted brilliantly to human environments. They can often be seen exploring gardens, fields, and urban areas — sometimes fearlessly approaching people or scavenging for food.

Diet

Insects:
Magpies feed on caterpillars, beetles, and other ground-dwelling insects found in grass or under leaves.

Seeds and nuts:
They pick seeds directly from plants and collect small nuts for later storage.

Human food and scraps:
Highly opportunistic, magpies often take leftovers such as bread, meat, or other edible waste from urban areas.

Special Traits

Magpies are among the most intelligent birds on Earth. They possess excellent memory, problem-solving skills, and even self-awareness — proven by their rare ability to recognize themselves in mirrors.

They are also highly social birds that often live and forage in groups, cooperating to locate food or warn each other of danger. Their playful curiosity and adaptability make them one of the most fascinating corvids to observe.

General Feeding Guidelines for Corvids

Avoid:
Salt, spicy food, chocolate, coffee, alcohol, bread with additives, and raw or untreated meat (risk of disease).
If you offer meat, ensure it is cooked, unsalted, and only in small portions.

Limit:
Sugary and high-fat foods, which can cause health problems.

Unlimited (with care):
Fresh fruits and vegetables (e.g., apples, bananas, corn, carrots, and berries), as well as cooked rice and plain, unseasoned pasta.

Limited amounts:
High-quality cat or dog food, cheese, eggs, cooked boneless fish, and grains — all in small portions.

Feeding Guide for Magpies

Note:
These are general feeding guidelines. For precise information about your local corvids, it’s best to seek advice from local wildlife experts.

Biology and Behavior

• Appearance: Shiny black and white plumage with iridescent blue-green tones on the wings and tail.
• Habitat: Thrives in cities, towns, farmland, and open woodland.
• Social life: Lives in large colonies or extended family groups with strong pair bonds.
• Breeding: Lays 4–6 eggs per clutch and may raise 2–3 broods per year. Chicks leave the nest after about three weeks.
• Distribution in Denmark: Common throughout the country, in both rural and urban environments.
• Seasonal behavior:
  • Spring/Summer: Breeds close to human settlements and open landscapes.
  • Autumn/Winter: Forages in larger flocks, sometimes joining mixed-species groups.
• Communication: Sharp, chattering calls — often “krak” or “kraa” — used for alarm, social contact, or play.
• Lifespan: Typically 12–15 years in the wild.
• Diseases: Can be affected by parasites, bacterial infections, and respiratory problems.
• Tool use and feeding behavior: Exceptionally intelligent — known to use twigs or small objects as tools to open nuts, eggs, or shells. Magpies also cache food for later use and demonstrate advanced planning and reasoning abilities comparable to those of primates.