The Australian magpie (Gymnorhina tibicen) is a black and white passerine bird native to Australia and southern New Guinea.
There are nine recognised subspecies.
G. tibicen tibicen is a large subspecies found in southeastern Queensland, through eastern New South Wales to almost to the Victorian border.
It is coastal or near-coastal and is restricted to east of the Great Dividing Range.
There are nine recognised subspecies.
G. tibicen tibicen is a large subspecies found in southeastern Queensland, through eastern New South Wales to almost to the Victorian border.
It is coastal or near-coastal and is restricted to east of the Great Dividing Range.
That’s the one we have here.
The adult magpie is a fairly big bird ranging from 37 to 43 cm (14.5 to 17 in) in length, with black and white plumage, gold brown eyes and a solid wedge-shaped bluish-white and black bill.
The male and female are similar in appearance, but can be distinguished by differences in back markings. The male has pure white feathers on the back of the head where the female has white blending to grey feathers. With its long legs, the magpie walks rather than waddles or hops and spends much time on the ground.
It is a very accomplished songbird having an array of complex vocalisations as well as the ability to mimic various sounds.
We get serenaded from morning to dusk on most days except when it’s really hot and they retire to the shade of the trees.
It eats both animal and vegetable matter with the bulk of its varied diet made up of invertebrates.
They frequent our composting vegetative matter on our garden and follow me around while I’m mowing picking up the disturbed insects.
We get serenaded from morning to dusk on most days except when it’s really hot and they retire to the shade of the trees.
It eats both animal and vegetable matter with the bulk of its varied diet made up of invertebrates.
They frequent our composting vegetative matter on our garden and follow me around while I’m mowing picking up the disturbed insects.
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It is generally sedentary and territorial throughout its range.
Common and widespread, it has adapted well to human habitation and is a familiar bird of parks, gardens and farmland in Australia.
Common and widespread, it has adapted well to human habitation and is a familiar bird of parks, gardens and farmland in Australia.
This species is commonly fed by households around Australia, but in spring and occasionally in autumn a small minority of breeding magpies, almost always males, become aggressive swooping and attacking those who approach their nests.
Research has shown that magpies can recognise at least 100 different people and may be less likely to swoop individuals they have befriended.
We have never been swooped.We consider our small flock of around six to eight birds to be part of the family now.
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