Magpie Hunting Insects On The Back Of A Bison

I tend to like unusual perches even when they’re of the furry kind.

 

1/2500, f/6.3, ISO 800, Canon 7D Mark II, Canon EF 500mm f/4L IS II USM + EF 1.4 III Extender, not baited, set up or called in

Yesterday morning on Antelope Island I found this Black-billed Magpie hunting “bugs” on a bison’s back. Bison fur tends to be infested with a variety of insects and magpies often include them as part of their omnivorous diet. Magpies are known for their symbiotic relationship with wild and domestic ungulates and often glean ectoparasites from their fur. Ticks are one of their favorite delicacies but they’re definitely not fussy.

Occasionally I see this magpie behavior with the bison on the island but I’ve seldom been able to photograph it. Sadly the shots I got of this bird as it actually pursued insects buzzing around didn’t include a catch light so I haven’t included them (and I’m not particularly fond of this catch light either because it’s so close to the front corner of the eye) but I still enjoy seeing magpies on a living, furry perch.

I’ve deliberately cropped this image to include more of the bison which places the bird fairly high in the frame.

 

 

But a different crop of the same image shows what the magpie was after – small flying insects of some unknown (to me) species that heavily infested the bison’s fur. This bird definitely has its eye on them. I was just a little surprised that the magpie would go after such small prey but….. food is food.

 

 

And here’s a look at the entire furry perch. As is typical of these situations the big bull completely ignored the magpie on its back.

Ornithologists suspect that magpies deliberately swallow hair when they land on the backs of cattle and wild ungulates as an aid to pellet formation so perhaps this one had a fur ball or two for dessert.

Ron

 

 

 

 

30 Comments

  1. Dental issues have me feeling jaded at the world today. Seeing two species which I will not see in close conjunction is a wonderful antidote. Megathanks.

  2. Furball a la mode — a fan favorite! 😉 Darn those obnoxious magpies for being so beautiful with those iridescent feathers! At least it’s being helpful this time.

    I think the last shot is my favorite. I really like the composition and the pop of the flowers. Of course, I’d love to see the magpie at work — catch light or no — I love me an “action shot!” 😉

  3. Love it!! Blackbirds, e.g. Cowbirds, Starlings, do the same type of scavenging I believe. Do you see these species on Bison?
    This is a great shot of both the Magpie and Bison.

  4. Bison kits obviously come in three parts….and none of them match. The hind quarters (relatively small), the mid section (much bulkier) and the front (massive!)… Looks like bug and tick hunting id best in the fore part of the mid section….

  5. I love these photos! There’s a poem about symbiosis in there somewhere.

  6. Love symbiotic relationships!

  7. Anybody who eats ticks and fleas and those sorts of buggers gets my vote. Then, there’s the issue that I adore the whole darn corvid family–every darn one of them! And magpies are at the top of the list! They’re just so darn beautiful. Then, there’s the extra added bonus of the bison! I’ll never understand why folks favored bringing less-hardy cattle species here instead of going with bison and long horns who thrive (mostly) in weird weather extremes.
    LOVE these shots!

    • Laura, maybe one of the reasons folks went with cattle over bison is that bison are so very difficult (and expensive) to keep enclosed by fences. Just guessing…

      • That’s actually an excellent reason (for ranchers) to bypass bison. Fences don’t mean much to bison. But still…bison tastes SO much better. Yes, I’m a heretic 😉

  8. Furry perches are good, and you did get a lot of the Magpie’s iridescence. Hopefully hunting small insects satisfies their appetites. The thought of that makes me glad I’m not a bird…

  9. I love the contrast in surfaces—sleek, iridescent green feathers against the dusty, matte “boulder” of fur ! Nature’s alway’s the best artist…….

  10. Beautiful, I will have to go out this weekend. I love the yellow sunflowers with the blue-green sage and fawn colored grasses. I have not been for a month or so, it has been too hot for me, but the weather is predicted to cool down next week.

  11. Fantastic shots and information Ron! We could sure use them in Missouri we have a lot of tics.

    Charlotte

  12. Gorgeous photo’s with an interesting commentary! As long as the bison doesn’t have any wounds for it to start pecking at it’s beneficial for both. Yes, food is food – Great Blue Heron fishing the puddles on Belt Creek which only have minnows at this point.:(

    • Yes, I’ve seen magpies picking at wounds and sores, Judy. It isn’t pretty…

      When fish are scarce or unavailable because of ice our herons often hunt voles. They’re good at it too!

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