Australian Magpie v Laughing Kookaburra

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vs

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Both birds have a similar looking beak and overlap in body mass. From what I’ve watched the magpie seems like the more acrobatic flier. The kookaburra could give it a run for its money but the magpie would prevail due to its higher aggression. They attack passing cyclists during nesting season.

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Wow I was initially going to go with the magpie as it seems more predatory, what with that sharp beak and more predatory body profile. But after reading about the hunting patterns of both birds, I've changed my mind.

While there is lot of overlap in their prey sizes, the kookaburra seems to average larger prey all the way up to venomous snake.

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Both birds appear to be quite intelligent as well. I suppose it could go either way.

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Dec 24, 2022 4:33:43 GMT @packhunter said:

Both birds appear to be quite intelligent as well. I suppose it could go either way.

They both seem intelligent to me. Here in Australia there is a lot of magpie and they seem like very fast learners and social birds that commonly become habituated to humans as they learn humans are safe.

When living out of town in the country I'd have kookaburras sometimes land on the back porch railing. I'd say they're not as social as magpie, not as alert or quick on the uptake. Seems a more primitive aloof kind of bird.

But I don't generally equate greater intelligence with greater fighting prospects, in fact I'm more inclined to lean the way of the less intelligent animal as I feel to gain more intelligence there is usually a trade-off in some other attribute that is more valuable for fighting.

If I were to do a survey on animal intelligence as well as fighting ability, I do not believe I'd find most of the better fighters on the more intellligent side. In the little mini-survey's I've done in my head I've always thought the opposite is the case.

[oldgreengrolar]

Magpies might win in some skermish fights but the larger and more powerful kookaburaa will win in a fight to death. The latter has a much larger and stronger beak.

[Hardcastle]

I feed both in the backyard and tbh everything gets out of the way of kookaburras. I'm starting to think beak size is a major factor in bird skirmishes. At least on the ground.

[oldgreengrolar]

/\ I have seen both birds give way to each other but a really hungry kookaburra with the much larger and stronger beak wins.

Any chance you could get a video on both birds interacting?

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@hardcastle ^

[Hardcastle]

I think you have to say Hardcastle
Anyway, yeah I could get footage of that. Will see what I can do. Always have a hard time uploading any video bigger than a very tiny one online.

[Hardcastle]

That's @

...

Admin

(but joined together)
Hover over my name near my profile pic and you will see.

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Hardcastle

[oldgreengrolar]

Found one video. There are more on YouTube.

Edit: Here is another interaction .

[oldgreengrolar]

Can’t resist posting this one. The kookaburras is no joke.