Details
Gymnorhina tibicen
The Australian magpie is a diurnal bird of grasslands and urban edges. Social groups forage on the ground and give rich, carrying calls.
Map: Ecoregions 2017 © RESOLVE (CC BY 4.0) · Natural Earth (PD)
It uses open grassland, farmland, parks, and towns with street trees. Good habitat combines feeding ground with trees for nesting.
Wingspan is about 65-85 cm and weight about 220-350 g. Black-and-white plumage, a strong bill, and long legs give it a confident ground-walking form.
Diurnal birds maintain social groups and territories. Calls keep contact, and breeding birds may defend nest areas strongly.
It is omnivorous, eating insects, worms, small animals, and seeds. It walks over ground and probes with the bill.
Nests of sticks and grass are built in trees. Chicks are fed ground-caught foods by parents within the social territory.
Its status is listed as Least Concern. It adapts well to towns, though nest defense during breeding can bring it into contact with people.
