News from ScienceBlogs on magpies and self-recognition:
Self-recognition, previously thought to be found only in a small number of mammals, including humans, chimps, dolphins and elephants, has now been observed in birds as well. Psychologists at Goethe University in Germany watched five magpies remove colored stickers from their feathers after viewing their own reflections in a mirror. Their findings indicate that self-recognition, a prerequisite for consciousness, arose at least twice in evolutionary history.
The Magpie in the Mirror
Magpies Challenge Bird Brain Myth
Magpies Recognize Themselves