The research tested the intelligence of the animals, and found birds who were frequently picked on had become smarter to avoid their bullies.
A study of Australian magpies over two years has found birds that are aggressive are likely to be less intelligent than their victims.
The University of Western Australia has been observing groups of magpies in Perth for nearly a decade, and have established a baseline understanding of how their social networks look and how the birds interact with each other. UWA associate professor Amanda Ridley supervised Dr Speechly's work, and said her study was the next 'logical step' in understanding why.
Called a 'two choice' test, the birds had to learn which colour had the cheese hidden behind it in order to get the treat.Researchers said they had to use varying shades of the same colour so the magpies would not choose a colour they had previous experience with."They needed to make an association with a certain colour and food, and they needed to do that repeatedly – they needed to get it right 10 times out of 12 to be considered ," Dr Ridley said.
Elizabeth Speechley Dr Amanda Ridley Uwa Magpies Magpie Behaviour Animal Research Magpie Research
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