Australian Magpie

## Description

The Australian magpie (Gymnorhina tibicen ) is a medium-sized black and white passerine bird native to Australia and southern New Guinea. Although once considered to be three separate species, it is now considered to be one, with nine recognised subspecies. A member of the Artamidae, the Australian magpie is placed in its own genus Gymnorhina and is most closely related to the black butcherbird (Melloria quoyi ). It is not, however, closely related to the European magpie, which is a corvid.

The adult Australian magpie is a fairly robust bird ranging from 37 to 43 cm (14.5 to 17 in) in length, with distinctive 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, and can be distinguished by differences in back markings. The male has pure white feathers on the back of the head and the female has white blending to grey feathers on the back of the head. With its long legs, the Australian magpie walks rather than waddles or hops and spends much time on the ground.

Described as one of Australia's most accomplished songbirds, the Australian magpie has an array of complex vocalisations. It is omnivorous, with the bulk of its varied diet made up of invertebrates. 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 and New Guinea. This species is commonly fed by households around the country, 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 magpies can recognise at least 100 different people, and may be less likely to swoop individuals they have befriended.

Over 1000 Australian magpies were introduced into New Zealand from 1864 to 1874, but have subsequently been accused of displacing native birds and are now treated as a pest species. Introductions also occurred in the Solomon Islands and Fiji, where the birds are not considered an invasive species. The Australian magpie is the mascot of several Australian (and New Zealand) sporting teams, most notably the Collingwood Magpies, the Western Suburbs Magpies, Port Adelaide Magpies and, in New Zealand, the Hawke's Bay Magpies.

## Appearance

The Australian magpie is a medium-sized songbird, with distinctive 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 and can be distinguished by differences in back markings. The male has pure white feathers on the back of the head and the female has white blending to grey feathers on the back of the head. With its long legs, the Australian magpie walks rather than waddles or hops and spends much time on the ground.

## Distribution

Australian magpies are found in Australia, southern New Guinea and Indonesia. They prefer open areas such as grassland, savannah, fields and residential areas such as parks, gardens, golf courses, and streets, with scattered trees or forest nearby. They can also be found in mature pine plantations, rainforest, and wet sclerophyll forest.

## Behavior

Australian magpies are diurnal, however, sometimes they can also be heard calling at night. These birds nest and shelter in trees but forage mainly on the ground. On the ground, they move around by walking; magpies have a short femur (thigh bone), and long lower leg below the knee, suited to walking rather than running, although birds can run in short bursts when hunting prey. Australian magpies have a wide variety of calls, many of which are complex. When alone, a magpie may make a quiet musical warbling. Pairs of magpies often take up a loud musical calling known as carolling to advertise or defend their territory; one bird initiates the call with the second (and sometimes more) joining in. Fledgling and juvenile magpies emit a repeated short and loud, high-pitched begging call. Magpies may indulge in beak-clapping to warn other species of birds. They employ several high pitched alarm or rallying calls when intruders or threats are spotted. Australian magpies are generally sedentary and territorial throughout their range; they live in groups occupying a territory, or in flocks or fringe groups. A group may occupy and defend the same territory for many years. With the sight of the raptor, the sentinel birds will call and mob of the intruder. They will place themselves either side of the bird of prey so that it will be attacked from behind should it strike a defender, and harass and drive the raptor away of the territory. Magpies also use several defending displays; in the 'negotiating display', the one or two dominant magpies parade along the border of the defended territory while the rest of the group stand back a little and look on. The leaders may fluff their feathers or caroll repeatedly. In a 'group strength display', all magpies will fly and form a row at the border of the territory. The defending group may also perform aerial display where the dominant magpies, or sometimes the whole group, swoop and dive while calling to warn an intruding magpie's group.

## Diet

Australian magpies are omnivorous. They eat invertebrates such as earthworms, millipedes, snails, spiders, and scorpions as well as a wide variety of insects - cockroaches, ants, beetles, cicadas, moths and caterpillars and other larvae. Their diet may also include skinks, frogs, mice, and other small animals as well as grain, tubers, figs, and walnuts.

## Reproduction

Australian magpies form strong monogamous pair bonds. They have a long breeding season which varies in different parts of the country; in northern parts of Australia, they will breed between June and September, but not commence until August or September in cooler regions, and may continue until January in some alpine areas. Their nest is a bowl-shaped structure made of sticks and lined with softer material such as grass and bark. Nests are built exclusively by females and generally placed high up in a tree fork, often in an exposed position. The female lays a clutch of 2 to 5 oval light blue or greenish eggs. The chicks hatch around 20 days after incubation begins. The chicks are altricial; they are born pink, naked, and blind with large feet, a short broad beak, and a bright red throat. Their eyes are fully open at around 10 days. Nestlings are fed exclusively by the female, while the male magpie will feed his partner. Australian magpies are known to engage in cooperative breeding, where helper birds assist in feeding and raising young. This behavior is rare in small groups and varies from region to region. Chicks usually begin foraging on their own 3 weeks after leaving the nest and mostly feeding themselves by 6 months old. They reach adult size by their first year. The age at which young birds disperse varies across the country. Many leave at around a year old, but the age of departure may range from eight months to four years.

## Population

### Population threats

Australian magpies are not considered threatened or endangered. However, these birds are often killed on roads or electrocuted by powerlines or poisoned after killing and eating house sparrows or mice, rats, or rabbits targeted with baiting. Australian ravens often take nestlings that were left unattended.

### Population number

The IUCN Red List and other sources don’t provide the number of the Australian magpie total population size. Currently, this species is classified as Least Concern (LC) on the IUCN Red List and their numbers today are increasing.

## Fun Facts for Kids

Australian magpies are described as one of Australia's most accomplished songbirds. They have an array of complex vocalizations and can mimic over 35 species of native and introduced birds, as well as dogs and horses. Magpies can even mimic human speech when living in close proximity to humans.

During their musical carolling, magpies adopt a specific posture by tilting their heads back, expanding their chests, and moving their wings backwards. In winter and spring, a group of magpies sing a short repetitive version of carolling just before dawn (dawn song), and at twilight after sundown (dusk song).

Young Australian magpies like to play, either by themselves or in groups. They may pick up, manipulate or tug at various objects such as sticks, rocks, or bits of wire, and hand them to other birds. A bird may pick up a feather or leaf and fly off with it, with other birds pursuing and attempting to bring down the leader by latching onto its tail feathers. Birds may also jump on each other and even engage in mock fighting. Play may even take place with other bird species such as blue-faced honeyeaters and Australasian pipits.

Australian magpies have learned to safely eat the poisonous cane toad by flipping it over and consuming the underparts.

Australian magpies have adapted well to human habitation and are often found in parks, gardens, and farmland. These birds are commonly fed by households around the country, but in spring (and occasionally in autumn) some breeding males become aggressive and swoop and attack those who approach their nests.

Australian magpies are able to find scarab beetle larvae under the ground by sound or vibration.