Magpie

What is Magpie?

A magpie is any of several long-tailed birds belonging to the family Corvidae. While the term is often associated with the black-and-white Eurasian magpie or the black-billed magpie, it is important to distinguish these from the magpie goose, a distinct species of waterfowl native to Australia and Papua New Guinea.¹²

The common magpie is recognized for its high level of intelligence, possessing a brain-to-body-mass ratio comparable to that of great apes and aquatic mammals. These birds demonstrate complex behaviors, including tool use, social cooperation, and the ability to recognize themselves in a reflection during the “mirror test”. They are birds of farmlands and open country, known for their distinctive pied coloration and iridescent tail feathers.³¹

What does it mean for an animal to pass the mirror test?

The mirror test is a cognitive experiment used to determine whether an animal possesses self-awareness, specifically the ability to recognize itself in a reflection.⁴⁵

To conduct the test, researchers place a mark—such as a colored dot—on an animal in a location that it can only see by looking into a mirror. An animal is considered to have passed the test if it observes its reflection and demonstrates that it understands the mark is on its own body rather than on another individual. This is typically evidenced by the animal attempting to reach for or remove the mark from itself.⁵

While many animals, such as dogs and cats, often react to their reflection as if it were another animal, only a select group of species has been shown to pass the test conclusively. These include great apes, bottlenose dolphins, killer whales, Asian elephants, cleaner wrasse, and the Eurasian magpie.⁴⁵³

Which other animals are considered to be highly intelligent?

Determining which animals are highly intelligent often depends on the criteria used, such as problem-solving, tool use, social cognition, or self-awareness. Beyond the Eurasian magpie, several other species demonstrate remarkable cognitive abilities:

• Chimpanzees: As our close genetic relatives, they excel at cognitive tasks, including memory tests and complex tool use. They demonstrate culture through the social transmission of information, such as using “tool sets” to extract food.⁶⁷
• Octopuses: These cephalopods exhibit curiosity and problem-solving skills, such as unscrewing lids to reach food. They are also the first invertebrates documented using tools, such as carrying coconut shells for shelter.⁶⁸
• Elephants: Known for their complex social structures and compassion, they possess self-awareness, evidenced by their ability to recognize themselves in mirrors.⁶
• Crows: These birds demonstrate advanced reasoning, such as understanding displacement by adding pebbles to a cylinder to raise water levels and reach a reward.⁶
• Bottlenose Dolphins: Like elephants, they possess a high degree of self-awareness.⁶
• Pigs and Rats: Pigs can solve mazes and learn symbolic language, while rats demonstrate the ability to make decisions based on their own knowledge.⁶
• Goats: They have proven adept at solving multi-step mechanical puzzles and retaining that knowledge for months.⁶

What are some common myths and superstitions about birds?

Throughout history, birds have been central to human culture, often serving as powerful symbols and subjects of various myths and superstitions. Because birds were observed long before the development of modern ornithology, many beliefs arose from symbolic interpretations rather than biological understanding.¹²

Common Symbolic Associations

• Ravens: Often viewed as a near-universal symbol of dark prophecy, ravens have been associated with death, pestilence, and disease. Despite these grim associations, their intelligence has also earned them admiration in various mythologies.¹³
• Owls: While frequently regarded as symbols of wisdom, owls have also served as reminders of death in some Native American traditions.¹²
• Eagles: These birds have long represented power and prestige. In many cultures, they are held in high regard; for example, Native Americans have used eagle feathers in rituals and as a sign of peace.¹²
• Mythological Birds: The phoenix is a widely recognized symbol of resurrection. Similar avian beings appear in global myths, such as the fenghuang in Chinese mythology, which signifies harmony, and the roc of Arabian legend.¹²¹⁴

Superstitions and Omens

Supernatural beliefs often attributed human-like intent to birds. For instance, Australian Aborigines historically drove the black-and-white flycatcher away from camps, fearing it would overhear conversations and report them to enemies. Similarly, peoples of the Pacific Islands viewed frigate birds as carriers of omens and symbols of the Sun.¹²