Magpies recognise and 'scold' individual humans Magpies
recognise and "scold" humans who they perceive to be threats to
their nests, scientists have found. During a routine nest-
monitoring study a research team in South Korea discovered that
the birds recognised an individual that had previously climbed
up to and disturbed their nests. When that person approached
trees in which the birds were nesting, the magpies called out
and pursued him. The findings are published in the journal
Animal Cognition. One of the researchers, Sang-im Lee from Seoul
National University, explained that the findings were
"accidental observations". SMART AND SOCIABLE - Magpies (Pica
pica) roost together and, during the breeding season, they
gather in "magpie parliaments" where birds look for mates. -
They are part of the corvid family, which includes crows and
ravens. These birds have also shown impressive cognitive skills,
including tool use and problem solving. - Magpies appear black
and white. But their wing feathers have a blue