Only a small proportion of magpies swoop on people and these often have a preference for a few individuals that the birds recognise or certain types of 'targets' like pedestrians and cyclists. A magpie will only defend its nest within a 'defence zone'.
“Only 10 per cent of the male magpies actually swoop people and the research suggests it is actually a learned behaviour,” Dooley says. “These birds might have had a bad experience with humans in the past, and they remember that and swoop when humans come near their nest.”
Although they may not be enraged by certain colours, magpies that swoop tend to target specific types of people. For instance, some magpies will only swoop cyclists, while others will target pedestrians. A small percentage will indiscriminately attack anyone.
Picking up a fledglin bird (a young bird that has just left the nest) could be seen by the parent bird as threatening its young and it may trigger swooping behaviour. Sometimes the colour of people's clothes, a noise they make or the speed they are travelling at, triggers a magpie to swoop.
But a magpie "will only swoop when he doesn't know somebody", said Gisela Kaplan, emeritus professor in animal behaviour at the University of New England and author of Bird Minds.
When magpies have formed an attachment they will often show their trust, for example, by formally introducing their offspring. They may allow their chicks to play near people, not fly away when a resident human is approaching, and actually approach or roost near a human.
Like dogs, magpies seem to sense fear and will capitalise on it by pressing an attack. In a strike attack, a magpie swoops, hovers momentarily and then strikes. The fluttering of wings as the bird hovers is usually sufficient warning for adults and older children to duck their heads and avoid the attack.
Overview. Magpies can swoop from July through to December (usually for about 8 weeks) during the spring while they build nests, lay and protect eggs and raise nestling and fledgling birds. Not all magpies will swoop but some will as a natural instinct to protect their territory (area around their nest) and their young.
Deterrents for magpies
Half-full plastic bottles or CDs hung up in trees to scare the predators away. Magpies don't like the way light reflects from the surface.
Most Magpies don't swoop people. 90% of male magpies won't swoop and females don't swoop at all. But for just six weeks from August to September some males may swoop and become aggressive. They are just defending their nest and protecting their babies.
A key reason why friendships with magpies are possible is that we now know that magpies are able to recognise and remember individual human faces for many years.
Magpies are really quite lovable and it is easy to learn to live with these wonderful birds. A magpie friend is a good friend to have, particularly in the garden where it will eat up all your grubs!
Some nesting birds living in close proximity to humans will swoop some people that get too close to their nest. Some birds may also swoop to scavenge food. The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) believes the type and quality of interactions people have with their local wildlife is important.
Magpies are very switched on. They are protective of their nests and swoop interlopers during breeding season. Do not retaliate. Magpies recognise faces and if they conclude you are not a threat they will leave you alone.
Australian magpies breed from late July to December, which means that swooping season stretches across half the year. But it peaks when magpie chicks hatch in September and early October. “Despite all the hysteria around psycho magpies, it is just the male defending the chicks in the nest …
Protecting your pets from Magpie swooping
It's not just humans that Magpies see as a threat to their young. It's for this reason that dogs and cats can also attract their wrath. To protect your pets as much as possible: Make sure dogs are on-leash when walking through a Magpie's territory.
Natural predators of magpies include various species of monitor lizard and the barking owl. Birds are often killed on roads or electrocuted by powerlines, or poisoned after killing and eating house sparrows or mice, rats or rabbits targeted with baiting.
Use signs to warn others of the location of nests and defence zones, particularly in areas used by children and the elderly. Waving sticks or umbrellas in the air or attaching a brightly coloured flag on a long pole to your bicycle can stop magpies from swooping.
Travel in groups, as swooping birds usually only target individuals. Carry an open umbrella above your head. Wear sunglasses and a broad-brimmed hat. If you ride a bike, walk it through magpie territory or have a flag on the back of the bike that is higher than your head.
Magpies swoop in spring
Peak breeding season for Australian magpies is August through to November, which is normally when the swooping begins. During this time, they will defend their nests and chicks, but also defend their surrounding territory.
The most well-known bird for displaying swooping behaviour is the Australian magpie, however other species of native birds have also been known to swoop including the masked lapwing (plover), butcherbird, magpie-lark (pee-wee), little friarbird, torresian crow and noisy miner.
Statistics compiled by the community website Magpie Alert suggest that most swooping takes place between August and October. "When the fledglings are out of the nest, the nest defence activity decreases," Ratnayake says.
Meet the Magpie Menace
Tourists visiting Australia often arrive terrified of the country's deadly wildlife, from snakes to saltwater crocs to the mythical, man-eating drop bears. Meanwhile, Australians are more afraid of the magpies.
According to another a study published in the journal Animal Behaviour, ravens which include crows, jays and magpies, have the ability to 'hold grudges' for up to two years.
Magpies are able to recognize themselves in a mirror – a testament to how self-aware they are. These birds are able to recognize up to 30 different human faces and can mimic human speech, earning the title of one of the smartest birds in the world!