Australian Magpie Gymnorhina tibicen Scientific name definitions

37–43 cm; c. 210–360 g (races combined), 212–325 g (terraereginae), 265–360 g (dorsalis), c. 300 g (nominate). Large black-and-white cracticid with long, heavy bill slightly hooked at tip, tail relatively short and square-ended, thighs feathered, long legs with large strong feet; wings long, broad at base, with pointed tip. Male nominate race is mostly glossy black, with large areas of bright white on nape and back of head, rump, and most of uppertail except for black band c. 5 cm wide at tip; white vent and undertail-coverts; white secondary coverts forming large white shoulder patch, white primary coverts forming smaller patch at leading edge of folded wing; iris red-brown; bill bluish-white with black tip, area of white becoming more extensive with age; legs black. Female is like male, but white on back of head merges to light grey on collar and rump. Juvenile is like female in pattern, but plumage loose and fluffy, main colour mottled blackish-brown with buff or greyish-brown barring, smaller white areas in wing, flight-feathers brownish, has buff eyebrow, bill shorter and grey-black, pinkish gape, iris brown, legs grey-black; immature variable, some like adult female but less glossy, others more like juvenile with buff or greyish-brown streaking and barring and with pale fluffy plumage on belly, retains juvenile wings and tail and, sometimes, buff eyebrow, quickly loses pink gape, and bill may develop some white at base during first year, iris dark brown; in second year similar to adult female, but bill still not fully white. Race terraereginae is almost identical to nominate, but smaller, with shorter wing, tail and tarsus, and relatively longer bill, black tail tip narrower, some feathers on thighs may have white tips; longirostris has longer, more slender bill than previous, but plumage very similar except for white feathers on thighs; eylandtensis is small, with long slender bill, basic pattern similar to nominate except that black band across back of male much narrower (more white on back), thighs white or black; <em>tyrannica</em> is very large with relatively short bill, male similar in pattern to nominate except that whole back is white, black tail tip very broad, thighs black, female and second-year immature like adult male but back milky grey with black streaks and white feather edging, back of head white, juvenile like that of nominate but back brownish-grey, barred black, with buff mottling; hypoleuca is very similar to last but smaller, with shorter wing, tail, bill and tarsus, black thighs, narrower tailband; telonocua is very similar to tyrannica but smaller, and black tip to tail narrower, female has whitish patch on back of head and hindneck less extensive; <em>dorsalis</em> male is similar to preceding three races, but smaller than tyrannica, with short black tip on tail, female wings, tail and underparts as for male, back of head and hindneck white, often blurred or scaled with grey, back black with narrow white feather fringes (giving scalloped effect), amount of white on back variable (little sign of white on some, on others white fringes broad and scalloping very obvious), juvenile similar to nominate except for buff fringes on back (scalloped appearance), first-year bird has back feathers dull black with variable white fringes, underside mottled grey, feathers darker-centred with paler fringe of light grey with buff tinge, especially on throat and chin (can be quite rufous), second-year has back black, variously scalloped white, underparts mottled, somewhat blacker than first-year, some have glossy black throat and upper breast, fully adult in fourth or fifth year; papuana has dorsal pattern similar to previous, male white-backed (sometimes some black on mantle), female black-backed with white-edged feathers and grey rump, both with white feathers on thighs, juvenile more or less as nominate but brown tips on black back feathers, immature and subadult like adult female.

Editor's Note: This article requires further editing work to merge existing content into the appropriate Subspecies sections. Please bear with us while this update takes place.

Introduced to New Zealand and Fiji.

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EBIRD GROUP (MONOTYPIC)

Australian Magpie (Papuan) Gymnorhina tibicen papuana Scientific name definitions

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Distribution

S New Guinea (S Trans-Fly region from Princess Marianne Strait E to Oriomo R).

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EBIRD GROUP (POLYTYPIC)

Australian Magpie (Black-backed) Gymnorhina tibicen [tibicen Group]

Available illustrations of subspecies in this group

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• 1,782 photos
• 68 recordings

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SUBSPECIES

Gymnorhina tibicen longirostris Scientific name definitions

Distribution

Western Australia from Dampier Land S at least to Pilbara region (inland extent uncertain).

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SUBSPECIES

Gymnorhina tibicen eylandtensis Scientific name definitions

Distribution

N Western Australia (Kimberley region) E through Northern Territory (including Groote Eylandt) to NW Queensland.

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SUBSPECIES

Gymnorhina tibicen tibicen Scientific name definitions

Distribution

coastal SE Australia.

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SUBSPECIES

Gymnorhina tibicen terraereginae Scientific name definitions

Distribution

most of Queensland (except Gulf region and extreme SE) and New South Wales W of Great Dividing Range (including most of Murray–Darling Basin) S to E South Australia (S, E of L Eyre, to Murray R) and N Victoria.

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EBIRD GROUP (MONOTYPIC)

Australian Magpie (Western) Gymnorhina tibicen dorsalis Scientific name definitions

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Distribution

SW Western Australia (E almost to Eucla, S of Great Victoria Desert).

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EBIRD GROUP (POLYTYPIC)

Australian Magpie (White-backed) Gymnorhina tibicen telonocua/tyrannica

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SUBSPECIES

Gymnorhina tibicen telonocua Scientific name definitions

Distribution

S Northern Territory and South Australia.

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SUBSPECIES

Gymnorhina tibicen tyrannica Scientific name definitions

Distribution

N and E Victoria (mostly E of Great Dividing Range).

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EBIRD GROUP (MONOTYPIC)

Australian Magpie (Tasmanian) Gymnorhina tibicen hypoleuca Scientific name definitions

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Distribution

N and E Tasmania; islands in Bass Strait.

Editor's Note: Additional distribution information for this taxon can be found in the 'Subspecies' article above. In the future we will develop a range-wide distribution article.

Open habitats with low ground cover such as grasses. Originally inhabited open eucalypt (Eucalyptus) woodlands, now found also in farmland and urban areas that provide open areas of grassland with mature trees nearby. Occurs in remnant vegetation patches, homestead trees, shelter-belts and windbreaks, along roads and rivers, also on edges of forest or woodland adjacent to farmland; in urban areas common in large parks, vegetation reserves and older suburbs with large gardens, lawns and well-grown trees. Not common in dense forests or pine (Pinus) plantations, except at edges and where large internal open areas present. Introduced population in New Zealand exhibits preference for open farmland with scattered trees.

Primarily sedentary. Non-breeding flocks formed by some races are more mobile within local areas, roosting several kilometres from feeding locations. Occasional long-distance movements of ringed individuals recorded, but no indication that such movement is frequent. Most dispersal only between local territorial groups, e.g. young male or female moving to nearby group that has vacancy. Race hypoleuca of drier E half of Tasmania, occasionally occurs in forests of NW and SW.

Invertebrates , especially terrestrial insects; also small vertebrates, including frogs, lizards, small birds and small mammals. Will eat carrion if available, or take insects present on a carcass. Forages in groups, members of which spread out over quite a large area, rather than feeding close together. Feeds mainly on ground , by gleaning surface or probing with long bill; turns over litter, leaves and stones, also stands at base of trees and probes into loose bark on trunks. Walks slowly across foraging area, looking for prey on surface; can also hear subsurface prey, and probes for beetles (Coleoptera) in soil following auditory cues. Smaller prey consumed immediately; larger items held, shaken and bashed against ground, or may be held with feet and torn apart. Seen to cache food.

Said to vary with locality and race. One of finest, best-known songbirds in Australia, with varied and complex repertoire. Well-known Carolling a series of loud, melodious flute-like yodelling calls , usually by pair or group, started by a senior male or female, others (including immatures) joining in, often performed on ground; used for advertising and defending territory, in border disputes or just as advertisement; given also when significant food source encountered. Warble Song (Subsong) by single individual from high but well-concealed songperch, a soft warbling incorporating mimicry, continuing for long periods (up to one hour), containing elements heard in Carolling but at lower intensity. Other warbling songs are Dusk Song, Dawn Song and Moonlight Song, the last two heard early morning and on moonlight nights before and during breeding season, singers probably males; gives many repetitions of a short phrase, for long periods. Wide range of alarm calls based on harsh "ka" sound at various intensities. Rally Call a loud descending whistle of two or three syllables, "hoo hoo hooooo", audible over long distance, serves to summon group-members to boundary dispute or to attack by predator. Nestlings and fledglings give loud insistent begging call at sight of adult with food.

Eggs recorded Jun–Mar (most laid Aug–Dec) in Australia, timing can vary with location and season, especially in N and inland areas with irregular rainfall; in New Zealand (introduced) eggs recorded Jul–Nov; female occasionally attempts second brood when group available to look after first brood. Breeds as pair or in group, maintaining territory throughout year; in urban area single territory can occupy several gardens, and in natural vegetation or farmland territory size varies with quality, c. 4–10 ha. Breeding system varries geographically (main difference is group size); in N & E Australia (races terraereginae and nominate best known) breeding unit a pair, and group includes only pair and immatures up to about one year; in S Australia (tyrannica and dorsalis best known) group size larger, not all young disperse, breeding group includes multiple adult males, more than one adult breeding female, non-breeding adult males and females and older immatures; co-operative breeding recorded in some populations; some females in multi-female groups build nest and rear chicks with no assistance from other group-members until nestlings fledge. Evidence of high level of extra-group copulation; in urban population of dorsalis, more than 80% of nestlings were sired by extra-group males. Nest built by female alone, over period of 2–3 weeks, an untidy flattened bowl of sticks and twigs, with (in farmland and urban areas) fencing wire and coloured electrical cable often incorporated, inner cup lined with grass, hair, wool and shredded bark, external diameter c. 30–50 cm and depth 10–20 cm, internal diameter 13–16 cm and depth 5–10 cm; usually in vertical or horizontal fork in tall tree, in outer canopy of live tree, 2–20 m (average c. 10 m) above ground, eucalypt preferred if available, but in urban areas exotic trees also used; female frequently nests in same tree each year or in nearby one; in multi-female groups individual females may nest in adjacent trees. Clutch usually 3–4 eggs, blue or green with red-brown spots, blotches or streaks, average 38 x 27 mm; may lay replacement clutch if first nest attempt fails (unless failure very late in season); incubation by female alone, period c. 21 days; chicks brooded by female, fed by female, her male partner, and in some cases other group-members, nestling period c. 30 days; young out of nest initially unable to fly, spend time on ground, in low cover or in lower branches of tree, into which they clamber by hopping, can fly after 2–3 weeks, mother provides most food for first month, then young begin to forage independently, but continue to beg from mother or other adult (and may receive food occasionally) for up to six months, although largely independent by two months; in large groups fledglings may be fed by other group-members, in addition to mother and her male partner; some groups defend nest and fledglings very aggressively by diving at intruders, especially during late nestling stage; in small groups (only one pair breeding) young remain until dispersing at start of next breeding season, in larger groups young remain longer and many do not disperse; female may disperse when reaching sexual maturity at 2 years or may remain and breed in natal group; males may disperse in third year or some time later, but many do not. Nests parasitized by Channel-billed Cuckoo (Scythrops novaehollandiae), sometimes by Eastern Koel (Eudynamys orientalis). Success varies with year and location, overall c. 70% of nests produce fledged young and pairs produce c. 1 fledgling per nest; in larger groups in Western Australia over ten years, groups with 1–5 breeding females produced 1·7 fledglings per group; main causes of failure are predation by crows (Corvus) and bad weather, especially rain and high winds when nests contain large nestlings.

Not globally threatened. Generally common and widespread. Locally abundant in E Australia; less numerous in N & C parts. Fairly common in New Guinea. Has benefited from creation of more open grassy habitat by clearance of native vegetation for farmland and urban expansion. Able to thrive in towns and cities, where tall trees for nesting and roosting and grassy expanses for foraging meet its needs; moreover, most pairs or groups in urban areas are fed by at least one of the human residents whose garden they visit, and this food helps to maintain breeding success in poor seasons. No major threats to Australian races; in New Guinea, papuana has very restricted range. Does not occur in rainforest habitat subject to logging, but could suffer from effects of fire, hunting, and overpopulation by humans.