<a href="http://www.independent.co.uk/environment/nature/magpies-reflect-on-a-newly-discovered-intellectual-prowess-901857.html" target="_blank"><img class="alignnone size-full wp-image-900" style="border: 0; vertical-align: top; margin: 8px;" title="magpie_46972t" src="http://strangeattractor.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2008/08/magpie_46972t.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="197" /></a>

We thought that only humans, apes, elephants and dolphins were self-conscious enough to recognise themselves in mirrored surfaces, but it should come as no surprise that magpies – and perhaps other members of their extended crow family – should be able to do so too. Now, what about those cephalopods?

<em>"Dr Prior and colleagues from Ruhr-University Bochum tested the magpie's self-discriminatory powers in experiments involving five magpies marked with coloured dots on their throats, which could only be seen by looking at their own reflection.</em>

<em>Two of the magpies – named Gertie and Goldie – quickly learnt that the image they could see in a mirror placed in their cages was of themselves and tried to dislodge the coloured dots they could see on their throat feathers.</em>

<em>The "mark test" is frequently used as an indicator of self-recognition in animals and young children as, if done properly, there is only one way the individual can see that the mark is on themselves rather than someone else."</em>

Full story over at the <a href="http://www.independent.co.uk/environment/nature/magpies-reflect-on-a-newly-discovered-intellectual-prowess-901857.html" target="_blank">Independent</a>