The Australian magpie (Gymnorhina tibicen) is a black and white passerine bird native to Australia and southern New Guinea, and introduced to New Zealand, and the Fijian island of Taveuni.[2] 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 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 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 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 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.[3]
Over 1,000 Australian magpies were introduced into New Zealand from 1864 to 1874,[4] but were subsequently deemed to be displacing native birds and are now treated as a pest species.[5] 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, including the Collingwood Magpies, the Western Suburbs Magpies, Port Adelaide Magpies and, in New Zealand, the Hawke's Bay Magpies.
^BirdLife International (2018). "Gymnorhina tibicen". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2018: e.T22706288A131945700. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2018-2.RLTS.T22706288A131945700.en. Retrieved 11 November 2021.
^Kaplan, Gisela; Rogers, Lesley J. (23 July 2013). "Stability of referential signalling across time and locations: testing alarm calls of Australian magpies (Gymnorhina tibicen) in urban and rural Australia and in Fiji". PeerJ. 1: e112. doi:10.7717/peerj.112. ISSN 2167-8359. PMC 3728765. PMID 23904991.
^"Vic masks could fire up swooping magpies". Australian Associated Press. 19 August 2020. Archived from the original on 6 November 2020. Retrieved 22 September 2020.
^Heather, Barrie; Robertson, Hugh (2015). The Field Guide to the Birds of New Zealand. Auckland, New Zealand: Penguin Books New Zealand. p. 413. ISBN 978-0-143-57092-9. OCLC 946520191.
^"Magpie". Greater Wellington Regional Council. Archived from the original on 11 August 2023. Retrieved 11 August 2023.
The Australianmagpie (Gymnorhina tibicen) is a black and white passerine bird native to Australia and southern New Guinea, and introduced to New Zealand...
neither magpies, nor as was long believed, jays. Treepies are a distinct group of corvids externally similar to magpies. The Australianmagpie, Cracticus...
and similar colouration, it is not closely related to the AustralianMagpie. The Eurasian magpie is one of the most intelligent birds, and it is believed...
The magpie goose (Anseranas semipalmata) is the sole living representative species of the family Anseranatidae. This common waterbird is found in northern...
The Australianmagpie (Gymnorhina tibicen) is a medium-sized black and white passerine bird native to Australia and southern New Guinea. Three subspecies...
flag of South Australia. The following words, endorsed by Professor Gisela Kaplan, an eminent Australian authority on the AustralianMagpie, explain why...
superfamily Malaconotoidea. Currawongs are not as terrestrial as the Australianmagpie and have shorter legs. They are omnivorous, foraging in foliage, on...
woodswallows have an Australasian distribution, with most species occurring in Australia and New Guinea. The ashy woodswallow has an exclusively Asian distribution...
Butcherbirds are songbirds closely related to the Australianmagpie. Most are found in the genus Cracticus, but the black butcherbird is placed in the...
whistling duck White-faced heron Australianmagpie Rainbow bee-eater Apostlebird Australian brush turkey Australian king parrot Black kite Cattle egret...
woodswallows) and Cracticinae (currawongs and butcherbirds, including the Australianmagpie). Artamids used to be monotypic, containing only the woodswallows...
of the public are invited to vote for their favourite Australian bird in an online poll. "Magpie beats #teambinchicken to swoop Bird of the Year title"...
Australasia and nearby areas. Historically, the cracticines – currawongs, Australianmagpie and butcherbirds – were seen as a separate family Cracticidae and...
Place, Civic, Australian Capital Territory. The sculpture was funded by a grant from the City Renewal Authority. It depicts an Australianmagpie pecking at...
Victoria, and to the south by the Great Australian Bight. The state comprises less than 8 percent of the Australian population and ranks fifth in population...
lyrebirds and Australianmagpies during mimicking, the author stated that the mimicry of the lyrebird was "impressionistic" while that of the magpie was "realistic"...
Australia and Lord Howe Island. One of three currawong species in the genus Strepera, it is closely related to the butcherbirds and Australianmagpie...
dominating most other species except large birds of prey and the Australianmagpie. They have been observed to attack larger birds of prey, particularly...
Oriental magpie include Chinese magpie and Asian magpie. A 2003 study comparing 813 bp mtDNA sequences led to the split of the Oriental magpie from the...
Kurrartapu johnnguyeni is an extinct species of bird in the Australianmagpie and butcherbird family. It was described from Early Miocene material (a...
the genus Strepera, it is closely related to the butcherbirds and Australianmagpie within the family Artamidae. It is a large crow-like bird, around...
the unchanging backdrop of the magpies' call - remains unchanging. The phrase imitating the call of the Australianmagpie is one of the most well-known...
pet in Redmond, Western Australia. It is the first fatal kangaroo attack reported in Australia since 1936. The Australianmagpie often swoops people in...
family and their interactions with an Australianmagpie named 'Penguin'. It was theatrically released in Australia by Roadshow Films on 21 January 2021...
home to dozens of bird species, which commonly include the Australian raven, Australianmagpie, crested pigeon, noisy miner and the pied currawong. Introduced...
Global Information
