{"id":3288,"date":"2025-12-04T07:58:26","date_gmt":"2025-12-04T14:58:26","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/bouldercountyopenspace.org\/i\/?p=3288"},"modified":"2025-12-04T07:58:26","modified_gmt":"2025-12-04T14:58:26","slug":"magpies-not-to-be-underrated","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/bouldercountyopenspace.org\/i\/wildlife\/magpies-not-to-be-underrated\/","title":{"rendered":"Magpies: Not to Be Underrated"},"content":{"rendered":"

In the fall, many feathered migrants have headed south to the bugs and blossoms zone. Left behind are winter and year-round birds, including magpies. Some birders take them for granted, but \u201cjust magpies\u201d is a dismissive label for these smart, glorious birds. Trek to the tropics, and a bird as vivid and arresting as a black-billed magpie would earn top billing on your seen list!<\/p>\n

The nonprofit Colorado Field Ornithologists (CFO) documents 420 bird species in Boulder County, including rarities. My old, battered \u201cAudubon Check List\u201d contains eight \u201cjays, crows, and relatives\u201d (corvids), noting black-billed magpies as \u201cvery common at all times of the year.\u201d<\/p>\n

Magpies show up in all Christmas bird counts and, on most hikes and outings (provided you pay attention), and regularly visit urban or suburban parks, gardens, roadsides, and parking lots. Their glossy, iridescent, black and white feathering is elegant; their swooping, tail-trailing flight breathtaking; their raucous and insistent voices compelling; and their survival skills impressive. Forget the term \u201cbirdbrain,\u201d and celebrate them.<\/p>\n

Magpies are corvids, known for their smarts. Intelligent and self-aware (they recognize themselves in mirrors), they are problem-solvers when seeking food, whether in natural or human-contrived research settings. They once followed Native American bison hunts, feasting on leftovers from kills. Although bison are rare these days, magpies still follow other wild hunts, keeping beady eyes open to steal prey from foxes, coyotes, badgers, and other predators. They glean ticks from the fur of pest-ridden deer, elk, and moose. They\u2019re supreme opportunists.<\/p>\n

Yes, magpies steal eggs and nestlings of other birds, but milder, mainstay foods include insects, seeds, fruit, and carrion. They cache food if there\u2019s plenty, returning later to reclaim it. This is a feat of memory; and sneakiness; to retrieve a stash furtively.<\/p>\n

Do you relish quirky facts? Note: Magpies sometimes stash dog poop, but please don\u2019t rely on them to clean up after your pooch!\"Black-billed<\/a><\/p>\n

Besides remembering where they hid food, magpies also recognize and remember individual human faces, even bearing grudges against people who have caused them harm.<\/p>\n

Writing about magpies without slipping into anthropomorphism (describing them in human terms) is tricky. They walk with an apparent \u201cswagger\u201d, their long tails flicking \u201carrogantly\u201d from side to side. Their calls sound \u201cbossy\u201d and \u201cimperious.\u201d They seem \u201copinionated,\u201d especially when they gather in large groups, chattering.<\/p>\n

Why do they assemble? A nursery rhyme, a relic of ancient ornithomancy (predicting the future through bird behavior), talks of magpie gatherings:<\/p>\n

One for sorrow,
\nTwo for joy,
\nThree for a girl,
\nFour for a boy,
\nFive for silver,
\nSix for gold,
\nSeven for a secret,
\nNever to be told.<\/p>\n

What\u2019s the true reason for assemblies? Sometimes, and it\u2019s no secret, a group gathers to warn off a roosting owl, hawk, or climbing cat, mobbing the menace until it moves on. If you hear concentrated squawking and see a fussing, fidgety bunch of magpies, stop to figure out the cause. Magpies mob ground-based hunters, foxes, and coyotes, creating a hubbub so the hunter will move on.<\/p>\n

When a magpie dies, other magpies may gather around the corpse. These groups, or \u201cfunerals,\u201d suggest possible grief and emotional intelligence, attributes we cannot evaluate. Maybe the birds gather to assess whether the dead bird is known to them or linked to possible risks and hazards to them. It\u2019s an open question.<\/p>\n

Talking details: Male and female magpies look alike, but males are larger. They pair for life and jointly building huge stick nests, although she does more of the interior work, the cupped platform on which she lays one to nine brownish eggs. Watch the nest entrance, a round hole at the side of the untidy nest.<\/p>\n

Females alone incubate eggs for 18 days. Their mates bring food for them and the nestlings as they hatch, pink, naked, and ravenous. Once chicks fledge, they leave the nest but stay with the family and differ from adults in their shorter tails and scruffier looks. They beg for food and learn about life\u2019s dangers from vigilant (and loud) parents. Dangers abound, from feral cats to owls, squirrels, weasels, mink, and crows.<\/p>\n

Whether you see two magpies and take joy in their behavior or see a host of them (a parliament, chatter, conventicle, gulp, mischief, or tittering, there\u2019s no one accepted collective noun), please treat them as more than \u201cjust magpies.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"Black-billed<\/a>
Black-billed magpies can be seen year-round in Boulder County and are commonly found in conifer groves, stream sides, and rangeland.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

In the fall, many feathered migrants have headed south to the bugs and blossoms zone. Left behind are winter and year-round birds, including magpies. Some birders take them for granted, but \u201cjust magpies\u201d is a dismissive label for these smart, glorious birds. Trek to the tropics, and a bird as vivid and arresting as a […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4,"featured_media":3291,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[3],"tags":[93],"class_list":["post-3288","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-wildlife","tag-winter-2025"],"yoast_head":"\nMagpies: Not to Be Underrated - Images<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/bouldercountyopenspace.org\/i\/wildlife\/magpies-not-to-be-underrated\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Magpies: Not to Be Underrated - Images\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"In the fall, many feathered migrants have headed south to the bugs and blossoms zone. 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(David Sibley, in his book, \u201cWhat It\u2019s Like to Be a Bird,\u201d likens these hawks\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Wildlife"","block_context":{"text":"Wildlife","link":"https:\/\/bouldercountyopenspace.org\/i\/category\/wildlife\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Cooper's Hawk","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bouldercountyopenspace.org\/i\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/coopers-hawk.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bouldercountyopenspace.org\/i\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/coopers-hawk.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bouldercountyopenspace.org\/i\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/coopers-hawk.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bouldercountyopenspace.org\/i\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/coopers-hawk.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bouldercountyopenspace.org\/i\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/coopers-hawk.jpg?resize=1050%2C600&ssl=1 3x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bouldercountyopenspace.org\/i\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/coopers-hawk.jpg?resize=1400%2C800&ssl=1 4x"},"classes":[]},{"id":550,"url":"https:\/\/bouldercountyopenspace.org\/i\/wildlife\/owls-at-home-in-winter\/","url_meta":{"origin":3288,"position":2},"title":"Owls at Home in Winter","author":"Staff","date":"11\/20\/2014","format":false,"excerpt":"Pulling up your snow boots for a cold winter evening walk can be difficult, but spotting an owl in the crisp night air can make it worth it. Many of our local owls stay very active in the winter. Flammulated and burrowing owls leave for the season, but long-eared owls,\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Wildlife"","block_context":{"text":"Wildlife","link":"https:\/\/bouldercountyopenspace.org\/i\/category\/wildlife\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Saw-whet owl","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bouldercountyopenspace.org\/i\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/11\/owl.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bouldercountyopenspace.org\/i\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/11\/owl.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bouldercountyopenspace.org\/i\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/11\/owl.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bouldercountyopenspace.org\/i\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/11\/owl.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bouldercountyopenspace.org\/i\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/11\/owl.jpg?resize=1050%2C600&ssl=1 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":563,"url":"https:\/\/bouldercountyopenspace.org\/i\/property\/ricky-weiser-wetland\/","url_meta":{"origin":3288,"position":3},"title":"Behind a Name: Ricky Weiser Wetland","author":"Staff","date":"11\/20\/2014","format":false,"excerpt":"\"I never had anything to do with lakes, I do not know why they picked me\u00e2\u20ac\u00a6 I am honored and sort of bemused.\" That was Martha \"Ricky\" Weiser's reaction upon learning that Boulder County had decided to rename Pelican Marsh, the westernmost pond at Walden Ponds Wildlife Habitat, after her.\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Property Highlights"","block_context":{"text":"Property Highlights","link":"https:\/\/bouldercountyopenspace.org\/i\/category\/property\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Ricky Wieser Wetland","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bouldercountyopenspace.org\/i\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/11\/Ricky-Wieser-View-of-the-Wetland-from-the-shrubs.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bouldercountyopenspace.org\/i\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/11\/Ricky-Wieser-View-of-the-Wetland-from-the-shrubs.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bouldercountyopenspace.org\/i\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/11\/Ricky-Wieser-View-of-the-Wetland-from-the-shrubs.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bouldercountyopenspace.org\/i\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/11\/Ricky-Wieser-View-of-the-Wetland-from-the-shrubs.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bouldercountyopenspace.org\/i\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/11\/Ricky-Wieser-View-of-the-Wetland-from-the-shrubs.jpg?resize=1050%2C600&ssl=1 3x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bouldercountyopenspace.org\/i\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/11\/Ricky-Wieser-View-of-the-Wetland-from-the-shrubs.jpg?resize=1400%2C800&ssl=1 4x"},"classes":[]},{"id":1300,"url":"https:\/\/bouldercountyopenspace.org\/i\/nature-detectives\/woodpeckers\/","url_meta":{"origin":3288,"position":4},"title":"Downy and Hairy, the Woody Look-alikes","author":"Staff","date":"11\/29\/2017","format":false,"excerpt":"Winter is a good time to search for downy and hairy woodpeckers. With luck you might find both species in the same Boulder County Park. Identifying which bird you are viewing is a tricky challenge. Both birds sport dazzling black and white feathers. The feathers are patterned in spots, stripes\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Nature Detectives"","block_context":{"text":"Nature Detectives","link":"https:\/\/bouldercountyopenspace.org\/i\/category\/nature-detectives\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Woodpeckers","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bouldercountyopenspace.org\/i\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/11\/nd-woodpeckers.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bouldercountyopenspace.org\/i\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/11\/nd-woodpeckers.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bouldercountyopenspace.org\/i\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/11\/nd-woodpeckers.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bouldercountyopenspace.org\/i\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/11\/nd-woodpeckers.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bouldercountyopenspace.org\/i\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/11\/nd-woodpeckers.jpg?resize=1050%2C600&ssl=1 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":3081,"url":"https:\/\/bouldercountyopenspace.org\/i\/nature-detectives\/spring-bird-migration-and-nest-building-in-colorado\/","url_meta":{"origin":3288,"position":5},"title":"Spring Bird Migration and Nest Building in Colorado","author":"Summer Alameel","date":"03\/01\/2025","format":false,"excerpt":"Every year, as the weather begins to warm up, we can see the signs of spring all around us. One of the most exciting things to watch for is the arrival of birds back to their homes. Birds travel long distances to find food, warmer weather, and places to raise\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Nature Detectives"","block_context":{"text":"Nature Detectives","link":"https:\/\/bouldercountyopenspace.org\/i\/category\/nature-detectives\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"A watercolor painting depicts a formation of silhouetted geese flying in unison against a sunrise sky.","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bouldercountyopenspace.org\/i\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/IMAGES-WEBSITE-FEATURED-IMAGE-13.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bouldercountyopenspace.org\/i\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/IMAGES-WEBSITE-FEATURED-IMAGE-13.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bouldercountyopenspace.org\/i\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/IMAGES-WEBSITE-FEATURED-IMAGE-13.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bouldercountyopenspace.org\/i\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/IMAGES-WEBSITE-FEATURED-IMAGE-13.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bouldercountyopenspace.org\/i\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/IMAGES-WEBSITE-FEATURED-IMAGE-13.jpg?resize=1050%2C600&ssl=1 3x"},"classes":[]}],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"amp_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/bouldercountyopenspace.org\/i\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3288","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/bouldercountyopenspace.org\/i\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/bouldercountyopenspace.org\/i\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bouldercountyopenspace.org\/i\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/4"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bouldercountyopenspace.org\/i\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=3288"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/bouldercountyopenspace.org\/i\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3288\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":3318,"href":"https:\/\/bouldercountyopenspace.org\/i\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3288\/revisions\/3318"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bouldercountyopenspace.org\/i\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/3291"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/bouldercountyopenspace.org\/i\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=3288"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bouldercountyopenspace.org\/i\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=3288"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bouldercountyopenspace.org\/i\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=3288"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}