Gymnorhina tibicen

Size: Birds Size: 36-44 cm

Family: Artamidae (Woodswallows, Butcherbirds, Currawongs, 15 species in Australia)

Distribution: All of Australia except parts of western inland Australia and northern Australia.

Status: Locally Abundant to Common

Habitat: Open forest, farms, urban land.

References: Simpson and Day, Reader's Digest, Wikipedia

About the Australian Magpie

The Australian Magpie is one of the most famous Australian birds. It is commonly seen in grassy open areas such as parks and sporting fields. It has a red eye. It is a distinctive looking bird and easy to identify, though occasionally currawongs are mistaken for magpies.

Around the breeding season (late August to early October) some magpies will attack humans that pass close to the nest, swooping down low and sometimes pecking the back of the head of the person. The attacker is almost always (99% of the time) the male bird. Holding a stick above your head is a good deterrent.Unlike the spurwing plover though, a magpie will usually attack from behind, and only an unusually agressive magpie will attack when you are looking right at it. There have been reports of magpies landing in front of someone and lurching up to land on their chest while pecking at their face and eyes, but I have never seen this happen.

Photo: Watsons Bay NSW.

Photo: Watsons Bay NSW.

Artwork: John Gould, 'The Birds of Australia', 1848. Higher Resolution 694 x 1000.

See Also

Australian Mammals
Australian Reptiles
Australian Frogs
Australian Fish
Australian Spiders and Their Faces
Australian Wild Plant Foods

Return to Australian Birds