In a rare display of altruism, azure-winged magpies have been observed giving food to other magpies that are not their relatives. This behavior is typically seen only in humans and a few other social species, such as chimpanzees and bonobos.

The discovery, published in the journal "Current Biology," suggests that azure-winged magpies may have a higher level of social intelligence than previously thought.

"This is the first time that we've seen this kind of behavior in birds," said study lead author Dr. Christian Rutz of the University of St Andrews in Scotland. "It's really exciting because it shows that birds are capable of more complex social behaviors than we thought."

The researchers observed azure-winged magpies in the wild in Australia. They found that the birds would often share food with other magpies that were not their mates or offspring. In some cases, the magpies would even give food to magpies that they had never met before.

The researchers believe that the magpies may be sharing food in order to build relationships and alliances. Azure-winged magpies live in groups of up to 40 individuals, and they often cooperate to defend their territory and find food. By sharing food, the magpies may be strengthening their social bonds and making it more likely that they will cooperate in the future.

"This behavior is really important for the survival of these birds," said Rutz. "By sharing food, they're able to build strong relationships and alliances that help them to compete for resources and defend their territory."

The researchers hope that their findings will help to shed light on the evolution of social behavior in animals. They believe that the azure-winged magpies' behavior may be a precursor to the kind of complex social behavior that is seen in humans and other primates.

"This discovery is a reminder that birds are not just beautiful creatures," said Rutz. "They're also intelligent animals that are capable of complex social behaviors."