A German researcher has proven that a species other than a mammal is capable of recognizing its own reflection: the magpie. In order to test this theory, Chancellor Helmut Prior of the Goethe University stuck stickers on a group of hand-reared magpies in places that the magpies could only see in a mirror. When the magpies noticed themselves in the mirror, with stickers attached, they immediately attempted to remove the stickers with their beaks and claws. Red and yellow stickers elicited this reaction; black stickers did not. Either way, when no mirrors were present the magpies carried on unknowingly with the stickers stuck to them.
Edo pergamenta ergo sum
Dr. High Chancellor Prior published his findings IN DER SPIEGAL!!! First of all, if you read that last sentence and then yell the last phrase out with a heavy German accent it's hilarious. Second of all, he actually published his findings in PLoS Biology.
Though it would be presumptuous to propose that there is any level of self-consciousness or awareness in the birds, it is not to assume that they think that they're pretty sweet.
Brain & Behavior
Comments
I wonder, has this been tried on any other corvids?
Posted by: BlueMako | August 19, 2008 7:04 PM
It seems the magpies are doing are better job of recognising themselves than other people are ;-P....
That's not a magpie in the photo, that's a mudlark.
Posted by: Christopher Taylor | August 19, 2008 7:12 PM
Well, beaten to it by a better commenter. I knew it wasn't a magpie, anyway!
Posted by: The Ridger | August 19, 2008 7:25 PM
What are you guys talking about? You're all crazy.
Posted by: Benny | August 19, 2008 7:52 PM
Mudlarks have white on their faces. Zing! I vote magpie.
Posted by: Liz Carter | August 19, 2008 8:53 PM
Slowly but surely the myth of mammalian supremacy crumbles...
Posted by: Sheri Williamson | August 20, 2008 12:29 AM
I know that the hummingbirds that frequent my feeders recognize me. I am the only one that fills up the feeders and I am the only one they do not fly away from.
The same thing happens when I walk in our woods. The birds know who I am and do not give out warning calls. If someone else walks there, they give out lots of warning calls.
It would not surprise me if other birds could recognize themselves, but I think it would have to be experimented on outside of the breeding season. I have seen many male cardinals attack their own images in mirrors or car chrome bumpers. Bluebirds do it too.
Posted by: Gindy | August 20, 2008 10:26 AM
Because Benny surreptitiously replaced the mudlark photo with a magpie photo when the mistake was pointed out ;-) .
Posted by: Christopher Taylor | August 21, 2008 10:01 PM
I know that the hummingbirds that frequent my feeders recognize me. I am the only one that fills up the feeders and I am the only one they do not fly away from.
Posted by: zayıflama | August 22, 2008 5:25 AM
I have seen many male cardinals attack their own images in mirrors or car chrome bumpers. Bluebirds do it too.
Posted by: diyet | August 22, 2008 5:29 AM
This a research that holds great interest for the study of consciousness. Magpies are smart as it seems :)
Posted by: Encefalus | August 27, 2008 5:17 PM