Description Australian magpie

immature, dark irises , less distinct plumage, australian national botanic gardens, canberra

the adult magpie solid, sturdy bird ranging 37 43 cm (14.5 17 in) in length 65–85 cm (25.5–33.5 in) wingspan, , weighing 220–350 g (7.8–12.3 oz). robust wedge-shaped bill bluish-white bordered black, small hook @ tip. black legs long , strong. plumage pure glossy black , white; both sexes of subspecies have black heads, wings , underparts white shoulders. tail has black terminal band. nape white in male , light greyish-white in female. mature magpies have dull red eyes, in contrast yellow eyes of currawongs , white eyes of australian ravens , crows. main difference between subspecies lies in saddle markings on below nape. black-backed subspecies have black saddle , white nape. white-backed subspecies have wholly white nape , saddle. male western australian subspecies dorsalis white-backed, equivalent area in female scalloped black.

juveniles have lighter greys , browns amidst starker blacks , whites of plumage; two- or three-year-old birds of both sexes closely resemble , difficult distinguish adult females. immature birds have dark brownish eyes until around 2 years of age. australian magpies live around 25 years of age, though ages of 30 years have been recorded. reported age of first breeding has varied according area, average between ages of 3 , 5 years.

well-known , recognisable, australian magpie unlikely confused other species. pied butcherbird has similar build , plumage, has white underparts unlike former species black underparts. magpie-lark smaller , more delicate bird complex , different banded black , white plumage. currawong species have predominantly dark plumage , heavier bills.

vocalisations

one of australia s highly regarded songbirds, australian magpie has wide variety of calls, many of complex. pitch may vary on 4 octaves, , bird can mimic on 35 species of native , introduced bird species, dogs , horses. magpies have been noted mimic human speech when living in close proximity humans. complex, musical, warbling call 1 of familiar australian bird sounds. in denis glover s poem magpies , mature magpie s call described quardle oodle ardle wardle doodle, 1 of famous lines in new zealand poetry, , waddle giggle gargle paddle poodle, in children s book waddle giggle gargle pamela allen.

when alone, magpie may make quiet musical warbling; these complex melodious warbles or subsongs pitched @ 2–4 khz , not carry long distances. these songs have been recorded 70 minutes in duration , more frequent after end of breeding season. pairs of magpies take loud musical calling known carolling advertise or defend territory; 1 bird initiates call second (and more) joining in. preceded warbling, carolling pitched between 6 , 8 khz , has 4–5 elements slurring indistinct noise in between. birds adopt specific posture tilting heads back, expanding chests, , moving wings backwards. group of magpies sing short repetitive version of carolling before dawn (dawn song), , @ twilight after sundown (dusk song), in winter , spring.

fledgling , juvenile magpies emit repeated short , loud (80 db), high-pitched (8 khz) begging call. magpies may indulge in beak-clapping warn other species of birds. employ several high pitched (8–10 khz) alarm or rallying calls when intruders or threats spotted. distinct calls have been recorded approach of eagles , monitor lizards.