Female magpies are louder and chattier than males, researchers have found

• New research has revealed female magpies are chattier and louder than males  
• Magpies were found to be some of the world’s most vocally complex songbirds
• Their calls are similar to human communication and can last for 70 minutes 
• Magpies can also communicate well enough to tell if other birds are lying  

Female magpies have been revealed as chattier and louder, according to new Australian research. 

Associate Professor Amanda Ridley, from the University of Western Australia, said magpies are some of the most vocally complex songbirds in the world.   

‘It’s not always obvious to the human ear, but we’ve found females call a lot more often than males and at much higher maximum and minimum frequencies,’ she told ABC News.  

New research has shown that Australian magpies (pictured) can tell when other birds are lying and that female magpies are often more chatty and loud 

Magpies (pictured) are some of the world’s most vocally complex songbirds

Ms Ridley, who has been studying the well-known birds for eight years, said most people were unaware that magpies have different calls. 

She explained her research had revealed that magpies have a detailed system of communication.

‘They have really complex communication compatible to rudimentary human language,’ Ms Ridley said.  

She also explained the Australian bird could tell if another magpie was lying.   

‘We’re looking more and more into the vocals and what we’ve also found is that magpies can tell the difference between individuals who give them reliable information and those who don’t,’ Ms Ridley said.  

THE AUSTRALIAN MAGPIE

The Australian Magpie is one of the world’s most complex songbirds

It can be found across Australia and lives near trees and open areas 

The magpie is black and white and feeds on insects and larvae 

Magpies will often perform a loud flute-like song in pairs or groups

The birds are known to become aggressive during their breeding season, July to September, and attack humans or animals near their nests 

Ms Ridley tested her theory by recording two magpie sounds in the wild.

She recorded one magpie that warned other birds when it saw a snake and another magpie that signalled when it did not actually see the predator. 

Ms Ridley then played both calls to several groups of magpies that she had been studying.

The call from the bird who saw the snake was passed on and the magpies responded as if there was danger but the second call was not passed on and was ignored.

Ms Ridley said there was still a lot more to learn about magpies and explained the bird could also sing for as long as 70 minutes and as loud as a lawn mower.  

The Associate Professor said Australians would be hearing many more magpie calls as breeding season begins in July and will peak around August and September. 

Aussies have been advised to keep an eye out for nesting sites and wear glasses and a hat to avoid being attacked by a territorial magpie.  

Associate Professor Amanda Ridley (pictured) said most people were unaware the Australian magpie had such a unique communication system 

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