Just saw a butcher bird fly down to start foraging for food in the ground behind my bus stop. I think it may be juvenile, but I’m not sure.
Shortly afterwards, a magpie flies down and lands near it. It slowly walk toward the butcher bird, whacks it once, and keeps walking. Then shortly after it flies off.
The poor butcher bird got knocked onto its back and was waggling its legs like an overturned cockroach. But it managed to right itself pretty quickly and went back to foraging.
Just saw a butcher bird fly down to start foraging for food in the ground behind my bus stop. I think it may be juvenile, but I’m not sure.
Shortly afterwards, a magpie flies down and lands near it. It slowly walk toward the butcher bird, whacks it once, and keeps walking. Then shortly after it flies off.
The poor butcher bird got knocked onto its back and was waggling its legs like an overturned cockroach. But it managed to right itself pretty quickly and went back to foraging.
What a delightful little encounter to wake up to.
I guess other bird species ‘know’ how much of a threat butcher birds are to them and their young. Or maybe that particular magpie is a dick.