my juvenile magpies are just about to moult to adults, but if the adult male arrives they cower. they play dead , flat on the ground. i thought one was actualy dead cause it was upside down with a wing at an odd angle. the minute the adult male left the yard it got up and started singing again .odd or what?
Magpie flocks are very complex in their behaviour & social arrangements. You might find it fascinating to google Australian Magpie & read about the species.