In my recent post of two pretty spectacular sunrise photos I complained about the very poor light I had for the rest of that morning, which resulted in flat light and photos I wasn’t particularly happy with. But I did get a few that documented some interesting Black-billed Magpie behavior.
1/2000, f/5.6, ISO 2000, Canon R5, Canon EF500mm f/4L IS II USM + 1.4 tc, not baited, set up or called in
In the bitter morning cold (12° F.) I found four magpies feeding on the dead rabbit at lower left. All four of them were pretty contentious about it but the magpie on the right seemed to be the largest and most dominant in the group, to the point of being a bit of a bully.
‘He’ spent much of his time chasing off his companions. Here he’s returning to the rabbit after chasing one magpie away, only to find another one on his frozen breakfast. The smaller and less dominant magpie made only a feeble attempt at defending the rabbit before conceding defeat and flying off.
But the bully wasn’t content with just trying to keep the rabbit to himself. After apparently gorging himself on as much rabbit as he could eat he…
1/2000, f/5.6, ISO 2000, Canon R5, Canon EF500mm f/4L IS II USM + 1.4 tc, not baited, set up or called in
proceeded to chase off any of his companions that landed anywhere near the rabbit.
Sometimes he seemed to be doing it just for fun. Here he’s displacing one of his companions that dared to land on a sagebrush that was at least 25′ away from the rabbit. He performed similar stunts again and again with all three of the other magpies.
Food is at a premium when it’s that cold but I had to wonder if the dominant magpie wasn’t using more energy chasing off his companions than he was gaining by eating more of the rabbit than they were.
Happy Winter Solstice.
Ron
Love the action, depth of focus and the subtle iridescence.
Fascinating! Corvids can be such schmucks sometimes. Wonder if Mr. Putz is willing to tip the calories in-calories out scale to set a precedent for future morsels during the winter.
I’m impressed with the amount of detail you were able to get in those light conditions.
Happy Solstice, everyone!
Thanks, Marty. Glad you noticed the detail. I just wish the magpie on the right in the first photo was sharper. I didn’t have enough depth of field.
Yes, at the expense of using energy is often my thought while watching hummingbirds.
And for me, a few other birds too.
Ron: The first photo of the magpies is gorgeous. Don’t know how you got both in the frame, but the composition and image are wonderful. Thanks!
Thanks very much, Richard.
Bully Magpie is Messy Magpie, too, look at that beak! Too busy chasing off others to enjoy the remaining tidbits right there on his face … a most disagreeable dining companion, that one.
Happy Solstice to you, as well, Ron — the fact that it may be close to 80 in SoCal by Christmas Day tells me that, yes, winter has arrived. 🥺
Thanks, Chris. I remember many a warm, sunny Christmas in SoCal when I was a little kid.
Even with the poor lighting you can see the glorious colors and iridescence in the bully magpie. Fun behavior capture!
Thanks, Kathleen.
Pecking order ISN’T an empty phrase is it? I have often watched birds playing king of the castle on the feeder and wondered whether they extend more energy than they get.
A truly delightful series – though I doubt that many of the players would agree.
“I doubt that many of the players would agree”
EC, only the bully looked like he was enjoying himself.
At my feeders the goldfinches, juncos, Anna’s hummingbirds and various other visitors seem to spend almost as much time displacing each other on the perches as actually eating. All except the chickadees. The same with squirrels on the ground. Whatever the motivation, the activity must help keep them warm at 14°. The crows don’t seem to squabble over the nuts. Not sure it would be the same if I was putting out dead rabbits.
You’re right about chickadees, Lyle. In my experience they don’t fight.
Happy Solstice to you and all your posse! To me, winter solstice is the
TRUE NEW YEAR….the blessing of longer and longer sunlight is precious.
That bully magpie reminded me of the old Aesop’s fable of the dog in the
manger– even after he couldn’t eat any more, he still drove off the other
hungrier critters……
Aesop’s Fables – now that brings back some memories Kris – of Mrs. Myhre and high school junior English.
“…I had to wonder if the dominant magpie wasn’t using more energy chasing off his companions than he was gaining by eating more of the rabbit than they were.”
Interesting bunch those Corvidae. Quite smart. I wonder about that avian survival math all the time. They must be at least pretty good at determining when they reach a point of diminishing return on energy spent. Would not last long, in particular in such harsh conditions, if they didn’t.
Good point, Michael. The behavior probably wouldn’t persist if it wasn’t somehow an advantage.
Excellent point at the end Ron. By his nature he has to dominate and win, but at the same time expending more energy than he has received from what’s left of that rabbit. Wonder who got it first – coyotes, an eagle, Red-tail, etc?
Tough photography too in those freezing temps and poor light. Good job.
“Wonder who got it first”
Everett, I think the rabbit was probably road-killed. It was just off the edge of the dirt road.
Yep – They’re “buddies” until food is involved particularly when scarce…….. 😉 True of many/most species including humans!
“Nights will start getting shorter” as a cousin used to say 😉
“Nights will start getting shorter”
An equally valid way to look at it, if you ask me.
This reminds me of watching my cousins bicker over the last piece of pecan pie two days after Christmas. The dominant Magpie had nothing on that winner!
Shoreacres, pecan pies are worth bickering over! They’re the only kind of dessert pies I ever buy (no, I don’t bake my own pies).