The BBC reports on a study that debunks the folklore that magpies regularly steal shiny objects for their nests.
For the study, researchers placed shiny objects near edible nuts that magpies eat to see whether the magapies would take the shiny objects and whether the presence of the shiny objects had any effect on the birds’ behavior,
Lead author Dr Toni Shephard 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.
“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 that the folklore surrounding them is a result of cultural generalisation and anecdotes rather than evidence.”