Have you ever wondered why magpies have a reputation for stealing things that are shiny? Recent experiments have shown that magpies can recognise themselves in mirrors, which is a feat that has rarely been seen amongst birds. Thus far, self-recognition has been limited to humans, monkeys, elephants and dolphins making this an exceptional discovery.
Magpies have never been considered to be an exceptionally intelligent animal, yet self-recognition has always been considered to be a function of a highly evolved brain. Several magpies had coloured spots put on their chests, which when put in front of a mirror they subsequently tried to remove. Magpies are clever birds with a curiosity not seen in many of their fellow species. They have surprised scientists with their capability of self-recognition and have become a topic of interest for further studies.
Tags: ability, bird, discovery, experiment, magpies, science, scientists, self-recognition
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