Magpies are not attracted to shiny objects and do not routinely steal small trinkets such as jewelry, according to a new study. In European culture, it is widely accepted that magpies (Pica pica) are the pilferers of the bird kingdom, unconditionally attracted to sparkly things and prone to pinching them for their nests, almost as a compulsion. But psychologists at the Centre for Research in Animal Behaviour (CRAB) at the University of Exeter are now countering this folklore, having shown that the species is actually frightened of new and unfamiliar objects, rather than attracted to them. The researchers carried out a series of experiments with both a group of magpies that had come from a rescue center, and wild magpies from the grounds of the University. Under carefully monitored conditions, the birds were exposed to both shiny and non-shiny items, and their reactions recorded. Dr. Toni Shephard, lead author of the study, said: "We did not find evidence of an unconditional attraction to shiny objects in magpies. Instead, all objects prompted responses indicating neophobia – fear of new things – in the birds. We suggest that humans notice when magpies occasionally pick up shiny objects because they believe the birds find them attractive, while it goes unnoticed when magpies interact with less eye-catching items. It seems likely, therefore, that the folklore surrounding them is a result of cultural generalization and anecdotes rather than evidence." The field experiment was conducted at eight sites on the University of Exeter campus where magpies are accustomed to regular human activity, allowing observations to be conducted in close proximity. The test objects were shiny metal screws, small foil rings, and a small rectangular piece of aluminum foil.Login Or Register To Read Full Story