Gymnorhina tibicen
The Australian Magpie, Gymnorhina tibicen, is a striking passerine renowned for its bold black and white plumage and melodic calls, a true icon of the Australian landscape. Males boast a pure white back, contrasting with a black head, tail, and wings, while females exhibit a mottled grey and white back, a key identifying feature of sexual dimorphism. This medium-sized bird typically measures 37-43 cm (14.5-17 in) in length with a wingspan of 65-75 cm (25.5-29.5 in) and weighs between 220-350g...
Found in open woodlands, grasslands with scattered trees, agricultural areas, and is highly adapted to urban parks and suburban gardens, primarily at low to moderate elevations.
Primarily insectivorous, feeding on a wide array of invertebrates such as worms, snails, spiders, and insects (beetles, ants, grasshoppers), supplemented by small vertebrates, carrion, and occasionally fruit or seeds, predominantly foraging on the ground.
Australian Magpies are diurnal, spending most of their day foraging on the ground or perched, then roosting communally in trees. They employ a ground-foraging strategy, walking and probing the soil with their strong bills for invertebrates. Highly territorial, they live in stable social groups of...
The Australian Magpie is widespread and common across mainland Australia, Tasmania, and parts of southern New Guinea. Its distribution covers a vast array of habitats from tropical north to temperate south, adapting well to both natural and human-modified landscapes. Several subspecies exist, inc...
Least Concern
- Despite their name, Australian Magpies are not true magpies (genus Pica) but are part of the Artamidae family, related to butcherbirds and currawongs. - They are famously known for their 'swooping' behavior during breeding season, dive-bombing perceived threats (including humans) to protect the...