Australian Magpie
ExploreBirds
Australian Magpie
gymnorhina tibicen
The Australian Magpie is one of Australia's most iconic and highly intelligent avian species. Renowned for its complex, flute-like carolling, this medium-sized black and white bird is a common sight in parks, gardens, and woodlands. Despite their friendly interactions during most of the year, they are famous for their protective 'swooping' behavior during the spring nesting season, fiercely defending their territory from perceived threats, including humans. Highly social and cognitively advanced, they live in stable, territorial groups and can recognize individual human faces.
Habitat: Typically found in open woodlands, agricultural lands, suburban parks, and grassy playing fields where they can forage on the ground.
Appearance
The Australian Magpie is a robust bird, measuring between 37 and 43 cm in length, with a wingspan of 65 to 85 cm. It features a striking piebald plumage of solid black and pure white, though the exact patterns vary across its nine subspecies. Generally, it has a white nape, upper tail, and shoulder patches that contrast sharply with its black body. Its eyes are a distinctive reddish-brown, and its powerful, wedge-shaped bill is a pale bluish-white tipped with black.
KingdomAnimaliaPhylumChordataClassAvesOrderPasseriformesFamilyArtamidaeGenusGymnorhina
Category
BirdsRarity
Common
Danger
1/5 · Very low
Snaps
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Interesting facts
Their nesting defense, or 'swooping', is famously known to Australians as 'swooping season' and typically only lasts about six weeks.
They are so cognitively advanced that they have been documented working together to remove tracking devices placed on them by scientists.
Unlike many other songbirds that hop, Australian Magpies walk or run gracefully along the ground.
Special abilities
Ability
Acoustic Mimicry
Capable of mimicking over 15 species of birds, as well as human speech, sirens, and domestic animals.
Ability
Facial Recognition
Can distinguish between individual humans and remember specific faces, categorizing them as friends or threats for years.
Ability
Cooperative Sentinel Play
Utilizes complex social structures where group members take turns watching for predators while others forage.
Measurements & details
- Length
- 37+ cm
- Wingspan
- 65+ cm
- Weight
- 0.22+ kg
- Lifespan
- 15+ years
- Top Speed
- 45 km/h
- Clutch Size
- 2+
- Incubation
- 20+ days
- Migration Distance
- 0 km
Diet & Feeding
Mainly insectivorous, foraging on the ground for invertebrates, but will also consume small reptiles, frogs, seeds, and fruit.
Primary Foods
- Scarab beetle larvae
- Earthworms
- Crickets
- Spiders
- Skinks
- Grain seeds
Foraging Method
- Foraging Probingout Of Sight Prey By Sound And Sight On The Ground Surface Or Just Below It Using Their Powerful Beak To Dig Or Flip Debris And Soil Clods To Find Insects And Worms Which They Can Even Hear Moving Beneath The Earth
Ecological connections
parasite
Channel-billed Cuckoo
Scythrops novaehollandiae
The Channel-billed Cuckoo acts as a brood parasite, laying its eggs in the nests of Australian Magpies, which then raise the cuckoo chicks.
hunts
Christmas Beetle
Anoplognathus pallidicollis
Australian Magpies actively hunt and consume Christmas Beetles during the summer months.
eaten by
Red Fox
Vulpes vulpes
The introduced Red Fox preys upon young, fledgling, or injured Australian Magpies foraging on the ground.
Traits
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Also known as
No aliases listed yet.
Collections
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Safety
Danger
1/5 · Very low
No special safety notes yet.
Frequently Asked Questions
How to identify Australian Magpie?
The easiest way to identify Australian Magpie is to use the Snappit nature identifier app.
How long is Australian Magpie?
37+ cm
What is Australian Magpie's wingspan?
65+ cm
How much does Australian Magpie weigh?
0.22+ kg
How long does Australian Magpie live?
15+ years
How fast can Australian Magpie move?
45 km/h
What does Australian Magpie eat?
Mainly insectivorous, foraging on the ground for invertebrates, but will also consume small reptiles, frogs, seeds, and fruit.
Where is Australian Magpie usually found?
Typically found in open woodlands, agricultural lands, suburban parks, and grassy playing fields where they can forage on the ground.
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