Are Magpies Responsible for Songbird Declines?

Like most corvids, the Magpie is a figurehead for human/wildlife conflict in modern day Britain. A bird cherished by many yet actively maligned by others.

Magpie Image: Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=357836

“One for sorrow,
Two for joy,
Three for a girl,
Four for a boy,
Five for silver,
Six for gold,
Seven for a secret,
Never to be told,
Eight for a wish,
Nine for a kiss
Ten for a bird
You must not miss”

The above nursery rhyme is one familiar to many; one drilled into us as children and recited with enthusiasm, even in adulthood. A familiar verse associated with the Magpie (Pica pica) – a bird which occupies a special place in the hearts of many nature lovers, myself included. A charismatic corvid of unrivaled intelligence, iridescent beauty and brazen charm and, thankfully, a firm fixture of daily life across most of Britain. Magpies – once scarce as a result of widespread persecution – now a welcome sight in our woodlands, hedgerows, fields and gardens.  Well, welcomed by many, but not all…

Like most corvids, the Magpie is a figurehead for human/wildlife conflict in modern day Britain. A bird cherished by many yet actively maligned by others. This apparent hatred stemming from the monochrome ones tendency to predate the eggs and chicks of other bird species, including those of economic importance such as pheasant and partridge. This has lead many control Magpies in order to protect game, something perfectly legal under the UK general license. Indeed, Larson traps designed to capture corvid species are a fairly common sight in our countryside, encountered everywhere from lowland pheasant shoots and farmland to upland estates.

While I may not particularly like the idea of removing magpies (and other corvids) to protect game, I accept that it is a part of life. One thing that does however interest me is the tendency of others to remove magpies when they themselves have little to lose through the Magpie’s predatory antics. Farmers, homeowners and other groups who exercise their legal right to cull Magpies seemingly without cause. People whom, when questioned, always produce the same answer: “but they kill all of the songbirds”.

A hatred of magpies and their kin appears to be deeply ingrained in the hearts of many, distaste rife among both rural and urban populations. Their fondness for fledglings and eggs, though entirely natural, distressing to some who feel such things justify taking action against the birds in response. Actions born sometimes of vengeance and on other occasions, genuine concern for songbird populations – some of which, at present, are in woeful decline. The sight of Magpies, combing a hedgerow or field in search of prey is a familiar one to me. Yet not one that fills me with anger, as it does others. Predation is part of life, after all, and the natural world is seldom rosy. No, it is the actions of those who act under this pretense that intrigue me most. Is the killing of magpies to “protect” songbirds justified? A scan of the available literature regarding the subject does provide some clues.

Many songbird populations have decreased over recent decades, at a time when Magpie numbers have increased tenfold (Marchant et al, 1990). A trend which, given the coincidence in timing, may appear to suggest that increased predation may be responsible (Thomson et al, 1998) although, since 1990, Magpie inceases have evened out and the population appears to have reached a natural equilibrium (RSPB, 2016).

To date, many studies have attempted to determine whether predators have a detrimental impact upon bird populations, though these have produced mixed results. With some (Newton, 1993; Witt, 1989; Bastian, 1989) suggesting that no negative relationship exists between predators and avian prey and others (Moller, 1988, Potts, 1986) suggesting that such a relationship does indeed exist. Many more are inconclusive and suggest predator/prey relations are complex and the impact of predation, unclear (Kie, White & Knowlton 1979; Parker 1984; Trautman, Fredrickson & Carter 1973).

With specific regard to the Magpie, many studies have attempted to define a relationship between songbird declines and predation (Gooch et al, 1991; Mizera, 1988; Thomson et al, 1998 etc). Once again, these findings have proven inconclusive, though there is good evidence to suggest that Magpies do not have a detrimental impact on songbird populations (Thomson et al, 1998; Gooch et al, 1991). Indeed, Thomson et al (1998) found no evidence that Magpies suppress songbird pop
ulations at a national scale and Gooch et al (1991) even noted an increase in the nest success of passerine species coinciding with an increase in Magpie numbers. The latter observing a decrease in the nest mortality of breeding Song Thrush, Yellowhammer and Greenfinch over the study period – possibly as a result of a decrease in predation from other corvid species – crows and jackdaws facing more competition as Magpie numbers increased. Additional studies (Witt, 1989, Bastian, 1989) similarly found no correlation between increasing Magpie populations and songbird declines.

It should be noted that the results of some studies do contrast with the results of Thomson et al (1998) and the other studies above. For example, Mizera (1988) suggests that Magpies could be to blame for the widespread breeding failure of open nesting songbirds in suburban areas of Poznan, Poland. While others (Andren 1992, Timsit and Clergeau 1998, Paradis et al. 2000, Stoate and Szczur 2001) have suggested that predation by corvids does indeed have a negative impact upon the breeding success of common passerines. Paradis et al (2000) for example highlights a positive correlation between corvid density and the nest failure rates of thrush species.

In relation to the aforementioned studies however, Gooch et al (1991) write that: “as such studies have only been run in farmland and were unable to reject the confounding effects of habitat type and time variation on nest-failure rate, the conclusions warrant caution” – thus highlighting the distinct need for further research. Thomson et al (1998), despite their conclusions, also accept that it may be possible for magpies to have a localised impact upon songbird numbers – specifically where non-related factors have already weakened populations.

It is widely acknowledged that predation can negatively effect gamebird populations (Newton, 1993; Taper et al, 1996) and clear, in some cases, that the removal of predators (including corvids) can aid in the recovery of certain species. A notable example coming from Tapper et al (1996) and their study of grey partridge. The evidence to suggest that the removal of magpies, and other corvids, benefits songbirds is however comparatively sparse. With Chiron et al (2007) concluding that the control of magpies on their study site was “ineffective” to preserve passerine populations. The authors later stating that the risk posed by magpies is no greater at high densities than at lower ones.

All in all, the Magpie argument is a fascinating one. It is clear to me that further studies must be undertaken to properly assess the situation, though personally, I am inclined to believe that predation is of little consequence for songbirds when compared to other, more pressing problems. Among these; agricultural intensification and habitat loss. Bypassing the obvious sentiment attached to the issue – I really do love Magpies – it should be remembered that the regular diet of a magpie comprises only 2% small birds as opposed to 80% invertebrates (Balanca, 1984). Magpies and their prey species have coexisted for an awfully long time without issue and from an evolutionary perspective, it would make no sense for any predator to greatly reduce prey populations. Magpie predation may well be a localised issue – i suspect it is – but only in areas where we have already put pressure on songbird numbers through our own actions. Would it not make sense to combat these issues first? At least before dragging the humble Magpie once more through the dirt. Only once these issues have been rectified should the term “control” come under consideration.

As I have said, I accept the control of corvids for economic interests but see no reason why such measures should be needlessly undertaken elsewhere. Scouring the journals available before writing these piece, my thoughts on the issue remain more firmly rooted on the ‘live and let live’ side of the fence.

For more from James you can follow him on Twitter at: @CommonByNature or check out his personal blog at: commonbynature.co.uk

Some interesting reading on the subject can be found below:

Chiron, F. & Julliard, R., 2007. Responses of songbirds to magpie reduction in an urban habitat. Journal Of Wildlife Management, 71(8), pp.2624–2631. Available at: <Go to ISI>://000250853000018.

Thomson, D.L. et al., 1998. The widespread declines of songbirds in rural Britain do not correlate with the spread of their avian predators. Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences, 265(1410), pp.2057–2062.

Gooch, A.S., Baillie, S.R. & Birkhead, T.R., 2016. Density and Breeding Success MAGPIE OF TRENDS PICA PICA AND SONGBIRD INVESTIGATION RETROSPECTIVE AND DENSITY IN POPULATION SUCCESS SJO 2UQ & British Trust Western. , 28(3), pp.1068–1086.

Society, B.E. & Ecology, A., 2012. in predation reduction of an experimental The effect density success and population on the breeding pressure Perdix perdix of grey partridges. , 33(5), pp.965–978.

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10 Comments

  • I once had songbirds in my garden now I hear the raucous jittering of only Magpies.

    A fox has also appeared, and enjoys sunbathing near the bird bath. It appears to have taken up summer residence in the border undergrowth.

    Lesley Smith 3rd August 2016 at 8:46 am Reply
    • That’s simply because of the severe habitat loss songbirds have experienced on a national level and has nothing to do with magpies, nor foxes.

      TT 16th June 2018 at 10:18 am Reply
      • The problem with national statistics is in the name. An individual who lives in an unchanged rural area for many years that is experiencing the decline of songbirds and increase in Corvid activity is correct to observe the correlation. This unique section is what makes up national statistics. Similar to the statistics where corvids are removed and the songbird numbers increase. However, I guess this does not fit the current narrative.

        NC 28th April 2019 at 10:16 am Reply
    • I agree entirely. It is Magpies, exclusively, that I see in groups working together to attack nesting birds and it is Magpies, exclusively, that I see making off with the still live chicks to kill them elsewhere and as you say what we are left with is a quiet garden maybe because the birds have gone or maybe because they are metaphorically speaking “keeping their heads down” while these creatures are still stalking this land.

      John 30th June 2022 at 8:04 am Reply
  • I find it curious someone would have more empathy with blood sport participants than conservationists wishing to “control” magpies.
    I wouldn’t kill any bird but dislike magpies as locally they kill most of the other bird species. I’ve seen them do it in packs, which suggests they must have some intelligence. I hope another more solitary bird of prey takes up residence to reduce magpies and allow the blackbirds. Finches, swallows etc to return. I miss them in my garden. I also dislike local wood pigeons who hog my bird bath and mess all over my garden, fence and path.
    Any liscene to kill birds should be better controlled as people enjoying the sport of shooting can injure birds causing much suffering. Particularly where they don’t pay much attention to local bird ecology and homing skills first on clay.

    chris 11th February 2021 at 10:07 am Reply
  • Living in rural cornwall , I have seen the decline of our small bird population, clearly we are now aware that we have climate influences from wet / cold springs and dry summers and this has seen a reduction in insect numbers, gone are many days where my windscreen would be covered with insects on my trip to Liskeard. The Martins in the village have not returned this year. Which I assume is because they have simply run out of fuel. ( No insects no fuel)
    We also have a very large Covid Population, which is 80% crow , 15% Magpie, Others 5% from observation I see the crows do not activily scour the hedge rows , but turn up oportunist to whatever they see, and the main feeding takes place as a colony , flocking to fields especialy when prepared for crops , so they pass high and travel relatively long distances. The local Magpies however have had three consequetiv e years of strong breeding. After counting twenty within plain sight , which begin in march to scour the the wall hedges , with a particularly nasty group of four pecking at the new born lambs eyes. it was time to do something. I have therefore taken 7 out. I will see how the population deals with it this year. And try to maintain it. We should remember we are to blame for loss of habitat and I don’t like taking this sort of action to prevent an even greater loss of hedgerow birds. It is frowned on here to remove or even cut hedges in nesting season.

    Ralph Hyde 3rd May 2021 at 8:21 am Reply
    • Lack of insects has nothing to do with climate change which has been ongoing forever and is entirely due to huge pesticide upticks in the last few years due to GM crops that have been engineered to tolerate the massive use of pesticides whilst using twice as much water in doing so as other plants so leading to more “droughts” that are attributed to “climate change” and not the real culprit, chemical companies which develop such crops to sell more chemicals.

      John 30th June 2022 at 7:54 am Reply
  • Living in rural Cornwall , I have seen the decline of our small bird Population, clearly we are now aware that we have climate influences from wet / cold springs and dry summers and this has seen a reduction in insect numbers, gone are many days where my windscreen would be covered with insects on my trip to Liskeard. The Martins in the village have not returned this year. Which I assume is because they have simply run out of fuel. ( No insects no fuel)
    We also have a very large Corvid Population, which is 80% crow , 15% Magpie, Others 5% from observation I see the crows do not activily scour the hedge rows , but turn up oportunist to whatever they see, and the main feeding takes place as a colony , flocking to fields especialy when prepared for crops iritating to margins but not to hedgerow birds. The local Magpies however have had three consequetive years of strong breeding. After counting twenty within plain sight , and viewing them begin in march to scour the the wall hedges , with a particularly nasty group of four pecking at the new born lambs eyes. it was time to do something. I have therefore taken 7 out. I will see how the population deals with it this year. And try to maintain it. We should remember we are to blame for loss of habitat of our hedgerows and I don’t like taking this sort of action to prevent an even greater loss of hedgerow birds. It is frowned on here to remove or even cut hedges in nesting season.

    Ralph Hyde 3rd May 2021 at 9:06 am Reply
  • I have lived in the same suburban house for 43 years. Since that time the thrushes have disappeared along with hedge sparrows and as of this year blackbirds. The robin and blue tit population is heavily reduced.
    During this time the magpie population has vastly increased so that after pigeons they are our most frequent visitors.
    In recent years I have witnessed blackbird fledgelings hunted and killed by magpies on and annual basis and now we seem to have no blackbirds.
    I am sure that the loss of songbirds has many causes but it is at least possible to reduce the magpie population using Larson traps and why is this not encouraged?

    John Boyd 6th June 2021 at 10:01 am Reply
  • Magpies have just killed our precious little woodpecker that has visited us for the last 3 years 🙁

    Alex Kelly 3rd June 2022 at 10:04 am Reply
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