Black-billed Magpie FAQ

Barbara Beck, PhD
Adjunct Professor
Department of Renewable Resources
University of Alberta
Edmonton, Alberta, Canada

Are magpies predators? 

To some extent they are. So are Blue Jays. So are Robins and Chickadees -- from a bug's point of view. Big guys eat little guys in this world. Even Bambi eats the birds out of a nest if he can find them. And of course man is the ultimate predator.

Do magpies eat other birds? 

Like many birds and domestic cats, magpies will rob nests to some extent.

Do magpies kill cats or dogs? 

No. They may have been seen eating a dog or cat which was killed on the road by a car. They are scavengers.

Do magpies attack people/children? 

Only if the people are disturbing or threatening their family.

Why are magpies so noisy? 

Why are kids that want to be fed so noisy? Young birds in particular who have just fledged are still hoping that by making a lot of noise mom or dad will feed them. Things are also noisy around a nest when something like a crow or cat threatens the nest. Can you blame the bird for that? Other birds can often be quite noisy such as our Blue Jays. Have you ever tried to sleep in a tent with a Barred Owl calling all night? If you do not like bird noise I hope you do not try camping in a tent in central Alberta during the breeding season for our warblers. Horrid noisy birds like Connecticut Warblers, Yellow-rumped Warblers, etc. will wake you up and continue their noise most of the day.

Do magpies migrate? There seem to be more than usual right now. 

They do not migrate. You just notice them more during the summer when the young have fledged and are making noise to get food.

Can I prevent magpies from nesting in my yard? 

Keep destroying the nest they are trying to build. You could also cut down all your trees and pave your yard with concrete.

Why do I get so many magpies? 

You or your neighbours are providing them with food - dog food, cat food, stuff in an open composter, suet hung for other birds, kids' sandwiches left in the yard or the cookie they dropped in the sand, the half-eaten McDonalds burger and fries dumped in a nearby parking lot or on the road, open dumpsters or garbage bags from which they can eat. Lots of things.

What might be attracting magpies to my yard? 

Food and water. See above

What might be attracting magpies to my condo/apartment/business? 

Food and water. See above

What can I do to stop magpies from harassing my pet? 

Keep the pet from harassing or threatening the magpies. Feed the dog inside so the magpies are not after its food.

Why should I care about magpies? 

For the same reason you should care about Blue Jays, Black-capped Chickadees, and Yellow Warblers and the rest of the animals that inhabit this planet with us.

Is it legal to kill magpies? 

A lot of things may be legal - the question is "is it right to kill a magpie?".

Why shouldn't I kill magpies? 

They are part of the web of nature. You should not kill them for the same reason you should not kill Blue Jays, Black-capped Chickadees and Yellow Warblers. What is the point anyway? If they are being provided with food and water in your area another will just come in and take the place of the one you killed. Remove the reason for the bird being in your neighbourhood and the magpies will abandon you.

What is the most humane way to deal with problem magpies? 

Magpies are an acquired taste. Learn to love them. Appreciate what a magnificent bird they are. They are smart, resourceful and strong enough to make it through our very very cold winters They are a bit of Wild Alberta that we can enjoy all year round in our cities.

Still have questions?

The Injured & Problem Wildlife section of our message board is the place to go for more advice and discussion.