Australian Magpie
A species of Australian Magpie, Also known as Maggie Scientific name : Gymnorhina tibicen Genus : Australian Magpie
Australian Magpie, A species of Australian Magpie
Also known as:
Maggie
Botanical name: Gymnorhina tibicen
Genus: Australian Magpie
Content
Description People often ask General Info
Photo By Charles Haynes , used under CC-BY-SA-2.0 /Cropped and compressed from original
Description
Despite its name, the australian Magpie bears little resemblance to its North American or European cousins. For one thing, unlike its cousins' piercing squawk, the australian Magpie has a melodic song that is a pleasant addition to the Australian soundscape. It is also black and white, where its cousins have some shiny blue plumage. However, there is at least one similarity: like its cousins, the australian Magpie can terrify humans during nesting season as it dives and swoops at anyone coming near its nest or its fledglings.
Size
43 cm
Life Expectancy
30 years
Feeding Habits
Australian Magpie are omnivores, foraging primarily on the ground for invertebrates, small vertebrates, and plant material. They exhibit diverse feeding behaviors, adapting to varied food sources and displaying unique food preferences.
Habitat
Australian Magpie typically inhabits open terrains such as grasslands, fields, and human-modified landscapes including parks, gardens, golf courses, and urban streetscapes, that are interspersed with trees or bordered by forests. This adaptable bird is commonly associated with eucalypt woodlands and has extended its range to include agricultural farmlands and remnants of native vegetation, often exploiting shelter-belts, rows of trees along roads or rivers, and parklands in urban environments. Australian Magpie tends to avoid dense, unbroken forest canopies and is less frequently found in pine plantations unless there are clearings or edges that mimic open environments.
Dite type
Omnivorous
People often ask
General Info
Behavior
The Australian magpie is almost exclusively diurnal, although it may call into the night, like some other members of the Artamidae. On the ground, the Australian magpie moves around by walking, and is the only member of the Artamidae to do so; woodswallows, butcherbirds and currawongs all tend to hop with legs parallel. Young birds display various forms of play behaviour, either by themselves or in groups, with older birds often initiating the proceedings with juveniles.
Distribution Area
The Australian magpie is found in the Trans-Fly region of southern New Guinea, between the Oriomo River and Muli Strait, and across most of Australia, bar the tip of Cape York, the Gibson and Great Sandy Deserts, and the southwest of Tasmania.
Species Status
Not globally threatened.
Photo By Charles Haynes , used under CC-BY-SA-2.0 /Cropped and compressed from original
Scientific Classification
Phylum
Chordates Class
Birds Order
Perching birds Family
Butcherbirds Genus
Australian Magpie Species
Australian Magpie