Last updated on 1-Nov 2017
The iconic Australian Magpie is a medium-sized black-and-white bird. Widespread in Australia from backyards to open forests, magpies are best known for their warbling song. Although the Australian Magpie is generally quite tame, some individuals become aggressive towards intruders, including humans, who venture too close to their nest sites.
The Australian Magpie is a heavyset, black-and-white bird with a prominent wedge-shaped bill. The plumage varies in pattern across its range. The nape, upper tail and shoulder of male birds are entirely white in males. Female birds have variably mottled grey backs. Across most of Australia, the rest of the body is black. In the southeast, centre, extreme southwest and Tasmania, the back and rump are entirely white. The eye of adult birds is chestnut brown.
A loud musical flute-like song, often performed as a duet or by groups. Bird call recorded by: Fred Van Gessel
Australian Magpies are common and clearly visible birds found throughout most of Australia.
Habitat: Heathland, Woodland, Coastal, Island, Urban, Grassland
Australian Magpies are found wherever there is a combination of trees and adjacent open areas, including parks and playing fields. They are absent only from the densest forests and arid deserts.
The Australian Magpie is highly intelligent. They have been known to be cooperative (eg. assisting other magpies in their group to peck off tracking devices), and to play and wrestle together.
The Australian Magpie walks along the ground searching for insects and their larvae. Their diet can also include frogs, lizards, small animals and carrion as well as seeds, fruit and scraps of food or refuse. Birds will also take handouts from humans and will often venture into open houses to beg for food.
Magpies breed from August to November and lay a clutch of 3 to 5 eggs. Their nest is a platform of sticks and twigs (occasionally wire), with a small interior bowl lined with grass and hair constructed in the outer branches of a tree, up to 15 meters above the ground. Females incubate the eggs for about 20 days, and the birds fledge after about 35 days.
