Do magpies migrate?

[Hedgehoggy]

I was always of the understanding that magpies are sedentary creatures, rarely moving far from their birth place. So why is it every winter I have a large flock congregating in my garden? I counted 21 magpies in my garden early this morning, and that wasn’t including the ones I knew were in my trees but couldn’t see from my xexexexexexexe window!!

[RoyW]

While most magpies will not move far from where they hatch, it is not unusual for them to form communal roost during the winter, sometimes with a few hundred individuals congregating in one area - but more typically with perhaps a few dozen birds in the roost.

I would suspect that you have a roost somewhere nearby, and some of them are visiting your garden before dispersing each morning (perhaps attracted to food you put out?).

[cara pace]

Wow, Hedgehoggy! I thought I had the record with 18 in my garden!

I imagine, as Roy says, that they are after the food you leave out. Ours usually arrive in force early morning and then as Roy says,they disperse.

I didn't know they formed a communal roost in the winter Roy, and in such large numbers! Very interesting.

[rossy]

yes most corvids do as roy says, but round our end, magpies are in groups, as are crows, but one spectacle each evening is the jackdaws coming in to roost, incredible sight and noise. rossy.

[Hedgehoggy]

Originally Posted by cara pace

I didn't know they formed a communal roost in the winter Roy, and in such large numbers! Very interesting.

I didn’t know magpies formed communal winter roosts either! I knew Jackdaws, Rooks and to an extent Carrion Crows did. Out of interest, do Jays form communal winter roosts too?

Originally Posted by RoyW

I would suspect that you have a roost somewhere nearby, and some of them are visiting your garden before dispersing each morning (perhaps attracted to food you put out?).

Exactly the scenario you describe The large numbers are only here early in the mornings, the rest of the day I only see 4-5 magpies in the garden at any one time (unless they’re taking it turns to visit on a rota system!).

It's a question I've often pondered over, so now I need ponder no more! Thank you.

[Hedgehoggy]

Originally Posted by rossy

yes most corvids do as roy says, but round our end, magpies are in groups, as are crows, but one spectacle each evening is the jackdaws coming in to roost, incredible sight and noise. rossy.

Observing one of these awesome spectacles (starlings, as well as jackdaws) is on my to do list The footage they showed on AutumnWatch last night of the million plus starlings coming into roost was mind-blowing and took my breath away just watching it on the TV.

[Gemz]

Hey peeps,

Just wondering if any of you had any idea's. There is a Large Group of Magpies to the rear of my house. With 3/4 that regularly come into the garden's, but as many as 13 seem to hang together during the day over the fields. I have never seen a lone Magpie - meaning out of these lot, not ever.

Today from 3pm, when it was still light, i have had one sorry looking Maggie on his/her own sat in my Bare tree. Obviously feeling the cold all puffed up. It's unusual as like i said, there are normally at least 3 of them that stick together and i have never had a single one roosting in the tree. They did build a nest last year, but i am not convinced they used it as it's really clear to see from my window.


So, just not sure why i have one lonely looking Magpie, roosting alone, with no cover. The tree is completely bare, provides no shelter from the rain or wind,it's raining too, and it's just been on the same branch since i spotted it around 3pm.

I did go out and put lot's more food down within view earlier, but it hasn't moved.

I am not sure if they roost fairly early due to the Dark evenings, and have never witnessed any roosting behaviour. I do sometimes notice that the larger group all seem to be in the same group of tree's across the field, when i walk the dog early evening.



Hope the wee mite is ok, and still with us in the morning. I know they have a high mortality rate, but it doesn't look Juvenile. It's a decent size, and a garden behind my own has more Bird feeders and Fat balls than the local pet shop which is always full of Magpies, Starlings, Sparrows and the likes. ..plus i put food out regularly.

[Dogghound]

Roy has pretty much hit the nail on the head here, as to why you have these birds.

Regarding migration the species is notoriously sedentary and rarely move far from where they are born, as they are also limited dispersers. You get very few recoveries of birds over 10km away from where they were born. Interestingly this sedentary behaviour seems to be quite restricted to certain populations (i.e. Britain, Denmark). Records of birds moving over 300km have frequently been made in other parts of Europe.

I have only ever had 1 recovery and that was shot less than 1km from where it was originally rung 8 months later. Most records are from birds shot.

[Dogghound]

Originally Posted by Gemz

Hey peeps,

Just wondering if any of you had any idea's. There is a Large Group of Magpies to the rear of my house. With 3/4 that regularly come into the garden's, but as many as 13 seem to hang together during the day over the fields. I have never seen a lone Magpie - meaning out of these lot, not ever.

Today from 3pm, when it was still light, i have had one sorry looking Maggie on his/her own sat in my Bare tree. Obviously feeling the cold all puffed up. It's unusual as like i said, there are normally at least 3 of them that stick together and i have never had a single one roosting in the tree. They did build a nest last year, but i am not convinced they used it as it's really clear to see from my window.


So, just not sure why i have one lonely looking Magpie, roosting alone, with no cover. The tree is completely bare, provides no shelter from the rain or wind,it's raining too, and it's just been on the same branch since i spotted it around 3pm.

I did go out and put lot's more food down within view earlier, but it hasn't moved.

I am not sure if they roost fairly early due to the Dark evenings, and have never witnessed any roosting behaviour. I do sometimes notice that the larger group all seem to be in the same group of tree's across the field, when i walk the dog early evening.



Hope the wee mite is ok, and still with us in the morning. I know they have a high mortality rate, but it doesn't look Juvenile. It's a decent size, and a garden behind my own has more Bird feeders and Fat balls than the local pet shop which is always full of Magpies, Starlings, Sparrows and the likes. ..plus i put food out regularly.

Behaviour is quite a complex subject. The most likely explaination is the single bird is a territory holder and the other birds are 1st winters/none breeders. Some magpies stay in a territory all year others leave the territory. This is usually the case when territory quality is low. These birds could all be from different family groups, its not unusual to have solitary magpies.