On a farm in New Zealand live three very unusual companions: Piper, a mixed-breed Staffordshire Bull Terrier dog, Gilbert the cat, and Echo the magpie. The surprising trio are all black and white, which makes them look almost like siblings – and in many ways, they behave like them too.

advertisement

We have already seen dog–cat friendships, and we know that if two animals meet as youngsters, a close bond can truly develop between them. But let’s admit it: it is quite rare for a magpie, a cat and a dog to live together.

Magpies Are Smarter Than We Think

At first glance, the coexistence of a magpie, a cat and a dog may seem unusual, but from an ethological perspective it is not necessarily impossible. Magpies are considered one of the most intelligent bird species. Experiments have demonstrated their problem-solving abilities, tool use and excellent memory. Some studies suggest they can distinguish individual human faces, remember past experiences for a long time, and flexibly adapt to new situations. Magpies are naturally curious and exploratory animals. On the trio’s Facebook page we can also see that Echo – an Australian Magpie – is a playful and inquisitive bird: it happily plays around, flies onto its caretaker’s head, and even hangs upside down next to drying socks like a bat.

The Dog, the Magpie and the Cat Are Like Siblings

It is interesting to observe how Echo behaves with Piper the dog and with Gilbert the cat. The dynamic between the three resembles the relationship of siblings with a few years’ age difference: the magpie is the youngest sibling who constantly teases the middle one, Gilbert, while Piper is the privileged eldest whom the others rarely challenge – although Echo sometimes tests the dog’s patience when it tries to steal their toys.

Different Yet Similar

Piper and Echo are not similar only in their colours. There is also an important behavioural similarity between dogs and magpies: both species primarily use their mouths – or in the bird’s case, their beaks – as a key way to interact with the world. For dogs, chewing is natural behaviour. It helps them explore their environment, release tension and play. When a dog chews, it is often gathering information or simply keeping itself occupied. Magpies, interestingly, use their beaks in a very similar way. Pecking, nudging and moving objects are essentially methods of actively exploring their surroundings. It is amusing to watch Piper and Echo begin chewing and pecking at the two ends of the same stick, until the dog eventually picks it up and carries it away like a true older sibling signalling to the younger one that it is better to know their place.

advertisement