Doves chasing magpies? (1 Viewer)

[Gretchen]

I saw some curious behavior around the corner from my apartment on our campus (in China). The regular black-billed magpie is very common on campus, but just recently I've been excited to see a few small groups of red-billed blue magpies (which have beautiful long tails) http://www.birdforum.net/opus/Blue_Magpie. Yesterday I saw a small group of doves (Eurasian collared) chasing after the rbb magpies. The magpies (I think 3, or 4) were in the same few trees I saw them in last week, and I wonder if they were looking at nesting there. One dove in particular, but I think 2 others involved were chasing after the rbb magpies each time they landed on a branch. Very aggressive!

Usually our regular magpies seem to be top birds in the area - I've never seen another bird bothering them. I've generally thought that corvids did the mobbing and didn't expect to see doves involved in chasing off intruders. Has anyone heard of something like this?

I am disappointed, as I'd love to see the magpies stay here :-C

Gretchen

 

[TwoDipsfromAmsterdam]

I suspect that the doves will not want them around if they're intending on breeding in the area. Note on the thread that you quoted that the RBB Magpies take eggs and chicks from nests. The doves will be well aware of that! Do they have a go at the Black-billeds (who will also take eggs and chicks)?

DiP

 

[fugl]

Eurasian Collared Doves have just recently begun to colonize my area (western Nevada), so I don't have a lot of personal experience with them, but from what I've read nesting ECDs--like many other birds with open nests vulnerable to predation--habitually drive away corvids in Europe & North America. So what you describe sounds more like it's the doves that are thinking of nesting--or are already nesting,--not the magpies.. Assuming this is right, once the breeding season ends, the doves should become less aggressive towards potential egg thieves & the magpies might return. And, of course, you might see the magpies again even sooner than that if they come back for (another?) shot at predating the nest.

Edit: I see another poster has beat me to the punch here (as so commonly happens on BF where responses to questions often come down like rain). As he implies, if there is a nest involved the doves shouldn't be tolerant of the other species of magpie either (unless it's just a case of the devil they know!).

 

[Gretchen]

Ahh, I see, that does make sense. The doves do not share my interest in exotic magpies or at least they take a different interest in it. I'll have to keep my eye on that area and see if anyone manages a nest there. Does anyone know what dove nests look like?

The fierceness and persistence of the doves was quite impressive - they looked like they would get the upper hand. I'll have to watch to see if they take on the black-billed magpies too.

Thanks for your replies.

Gretchen

 

[fugl]

Does anyone know what dove nests look like?

From the descriptions I've seen ECD nests appear to be similar to Mourning Dove nests if you're familiar with those. Flimsy platforms of sticks & grass usually at moderate heights (5-30 ft) in bushes or trees. Often around human habitations & sometimes on or in buildings. As is almost universally true of doves & pigeons, clutch size rarely if ever exceeds 2 eggs.

 

[Gretchen]

Thanks again. My "backyard" doesn't have lots of exciting birds, but this gives me something to keep my eye out for.

Gretchen