Magpies face widespread public hostility for predating songbird nests, but scientific evidence on their population impact is weaker than commonly believed.
Magpies killed under general licences for pest control die from shooting and Larsen trap capture-and-kill operations. As intelligent corvids capable of self-recognition and complex social behaviour, their killing involves morally significant suffering. The lack of scientific evidence that magpie control benefits songbird populations means much of this killing may impose welfare costs without conservation benefits. Larsen traps using live decoy birds cause chronic stress to the captive decoy animal that must be maintained humanely under licence conditions.