Grallina cyanoleuca
The Magpie-lark, scientifically known as *Grallina cyanoleuca*, is an iconic Australian songbird easily recognized by its striking black and white plumage, often leading to its common but misleading moniker, "Mudlark" or "Pee-o-wit." Measuring approximately 25-30 cm (10-12 inches) in length with a wingspan of 38-48 cm (15-19 inches) and weighing 60-110 grams, this species exhibits clear sexual dimorphism: males boast a fully black throat and white stripe over the eye, while females display a ...
Found in a wide array of open habitats, including woodlands, grasslands, agricultural lands, urban parks, and suburban gardens, especially near water sources. It thrives from sea level up to moderate elevations in hilly country.
Primarily insectivorous, feeding on a wide variety of invertebrates such as beetles, grasshoppers, worms, spiders, and larvae. They forage mainly by walking and gleaning items from the ground.
Magpie-larks are diurnal, highly active birds typically observed in pairs or small family groups. They are ground foragers, walking deliberately across open areas, pausing to scan and then darting to snatch insects and other invertebrates from the ground. Highly territorial, pairs defend their br...
The Magpie-lark is widely distributed across mainland Australia and Tasmania, extending its range northward into southern New Guinea. Its distribution is continuous throughout most of its Australian range, largely absent only from the driest desert interiors. In New Guinea, it is found primarily ...
Least Concern
- Despite their common name, Magpie-larks are not true magpies (family Artamidae); they belong to their own distinct family, Grallinidae, or sometimes placed with monarchs (Monarchidae). - They are master architects, constructing durable, bowl-shaped nests entirely from mud, often reinforced with...