magpies

[wilky]

are magpies thieves?

[Grunty]

Not in Dorchester, where they are a football team.

[rsd2525]

yes, along with jackdaws they are supposed to be attracted to shiny glittery articles

[Cetti]

Most of the crow family are wilky. I think it was the composer Rossini who wrote 'The Thieving Magpie'. Many items of jewellery along with shiny paper etc have been found in their nests.

[stanleyman]

I don't believe there has ever been a conviction!

[gary baldy]

I blame the parents myself!

[digitotialis]

No. To be a thief implies that they must knowingly steal the glittery objects. They do not know what they are doing, because they are simply responding on instinct. Their instinct for taking and moving said objects because they can easily see the items and they interpret the items by instinct as sturdy metallic stable building artifacts that they can use to construct more stable nests that are made of metal. They do not steal to be stealing. If you are in an area infested by magpies in particular, do not leave shiny valuables laying out near an open window.

[Stormwolf]

Instint cannot be associated with thievery. It is like saying a Grey Heron is a fish poacher.

[Gef]

They are vermin - they should be shot!