What about magpies?

Question

Are they illegal to keep as pets?

Answer 1

Magpies are not endangered but I don't beleive you can keep them as pets. better just to watch them in the wild. Black-billed Magpies have some interesting feeding behaviors! They feed by flipping over cow manure looking for insects, eat ticks and other parasites off of large mammals including moose and bison, will steal food from predators. They also hoard food when there is an excess.

Young male magpies will take a risk by trying to pull tails of large
hawks.

Magpies flock around dead magpies (called "gatherings"). The magpie that finds the dead bird may begin calling excitedly. Other magpies are attracted and perch in trees or other nearby structures, calling loudly. Up to 40 birds might gather within minutes after a dead magpie is spotted. Some magpies fly down 1 or 2 at a time and walk around the body calling loudly, often pecking at the wings or tail.

Frequently followed bison-hunting native Americans and fed on the refuse of their hunts. Strong ties with early American cultures.

Bold behaviors-will enter tents to steal food.
The yellow-billed magpie holds the honors for being the only bird found exclusively within California's borders. Bird watchers from around the world travel to the Central Valley and south coast ranges to see this flashy native.

A relative of crows and jays, the yellow-billed magpie shares the family trait of being extremely gregarious. Shy and retiring they're not. Festooned with brilliant iridescent black and white feathers, a long tapered tail and a bright yellow beak, the yellow-billed magpie stands out in the farmlands and riparian forests it calls home. And, if their bright colors don't attract your attention, their scolding call will.

Magpies are one of my favorite birds to watch. They travel and nest in colonies, so disputes are frequent and their feeding habits are diverse. Magpies eat almost anything. The birds probe the soil for earthworms and insects, catch flying insects on the wing, rob other bird's nests of eggs and young and feed on road-killed animals. Throughout the Central Valley, magpies take full advantage of the fresh fruits, grains and berries grown by farmers. In the fall, acorns are an important food source.

It seems the magpie goes all out in every aspect of its lifestyle and nesting is no exception. Magpies build huge, domed nests of loosely woven sticks. Mud and grass line the nest cup where six to eight eggs are laid starting in late February. In the winter when the trees are bare, the large nests are easy to spot 30 to 80 feet off the ground in sycamore, cottonwood and oak trees. By their size, you may first think they are hawk nests, but look for the tell-tale dome, a good adaptation to protect the young from predators

Magpies need three elements within their habitats: water, large trees for roosting and nesting, and adjoining fields or grasslands to feed. Whether you are in the city or country, if you are within the magpie's home range and you find these three elements, you will likely find magpies.
Watch for magpies as you drive alongside prime habitat. You can't miss their bright colors.
Listen for their raucous chaw-chaw-chaw-chaw-chaw calls to find the colonies of birds.
Once you find a colony of magpies, find a quiet spot where you can view a large expanse of trees and meadow with your binoculars. Sit down and wait. It won't be long before the magpies will ignore you and go about their daily activities.
Do not approach them, let them approach you. If you notice your presence is aggravating the birds, you are too close. Back away, sit down quietly and wait for them to return to the area.

Answer 2

It is illegal in the UK unless the chick is captive bred from captive bred parents. All native species bred in this way have to be close rung for identification. A solid metal ring with a number is put on the leg while the chick is small and when it grows it cannot be removed with out cutting the ring.
There are many societies that specialise in british native birds and they will have details of breeders and species available.

Answer 3

wild magpies are illegal to keep as pets anywhere in th U.S. All birds are protected by the Migratory Bird Treaty Act.

Answer 4

i have worked with wildlife for the best part of 3 years, i have never heard such a thing. Magpies are shy birds and they definitly wont land in ur garden to peck at a rabbit, it would be too frightened, but having said that, they do eat meat, but only if its already dead, they usually take baby birds from their nests etc, it doesnt like to prey on larger animals. u will often see them at the sides of the roads eating road kill etc, but im sure ur rabbit will be safe, u need to be more worried about kestrels etc, just keep an eye on ur rabbit while its playing in the garden.

Answer 5

I believe they are illegal as pets, each state has different laws so it would be best to look up exotic pet laws for your state.

Answer 6

Yep according to the migratory birds convention act it is Illegal to have/keep/injure/disturb nest as well as pretty much every other wild bird. http://www.schoolnet.ca/aboriginal/treaties/mig-bird-e.html

Answer 7

Probably. Some species are endangered.

Answer 8

they can be kept...in a cage...if you can catch them. They are pretty sneaky birds, let alone trying to catch the suckers, you have to be one step ahead of the little buggers.