Red Fox - Not scared of Magpies..

[Natonstan]

This morning I woke up to find a Fox wandering around my garden, I grabbed my video camera when a Magpie came down and was trying to peck at him but got scared everytime the fox moved:
YouTube - ‪Fox Vs Bird‬‏

[Za]

They really seem to like annoying foxes, I have seen 3 taking turns each to try and pull a foxes tail, the fox didnt seen too bothered, one look and they jumped away just like yours did.
It wasnt as if it was near their nest or young, it was in the middle of a park.
Nice video.
Za

[Wild-Woman]

Good footage. Interesting to watch animals interacting.

[Words]

Nice sequence. Magpies and foxes seem to have a strange affinity.

[mbaldw]

Fascinating video - it's not difficult to see how foxes get a reputation for catching corvids by feigning death/disinterest. The fox obviously knew the magpie was there, but by ignoring it the bird got closer and closer until it was well within striking distance (had the fox been so inclined). Corvids also seem to have an inbuilt dislike of foxes. We had a fox visiting our garden a few weeks ago and the whole crow family (including the youngsters, which I presume probably haven't seen a fox before) was yelling and dive-bombing it.

Thanks for sharing.
Cheers,
Marc.

[Jim Ford]

I think magpies do it for food.

They associate a resting animal with the possibility of it having a meal. If they harass the animal to make it move, then they might have the pickings. I've seen them do it with guinea pigs - they'll peck the backside of the animal to make it move, and then investigate what it was eating (generally grass!).

Jim

[Gill Catton]

Yes I think you're right Jim. Ravens do the same thing with wolves, one pecks the tail and it allows other to swoop in and steal food when the wolf reacts to chase or snap at the cheeky pecker.

I'd imagine if the magpie can get the fox to chase after him it might then move off and the magpie might find some morsel of food the fox left behind.