Australian magpie fact sheet – wilbung | Field of Mars EEC

What are Australian magpies?

Australian magpies (Gymnorhina tibicen) are large black-and-white birds commonly seen across much of Australia. They live in parks, school grounds, bushland edges, farms and suburban streets. Many students recognise Australian magpies from their loud warbling calls, confident behaviour and spring swooping season. Djarrawunang, wilbung, and  marriyang  are all names for the Australian magpie used by the Darug people of the Sydney basin.

Australian magpies have glossy black feathers with bold white markings across the back and shoulders. Males usually have bright white backs and females often have greyish markings. Their strong pale beaks and long legs help them walk across lawns and open ground while searching for food.

These intelligent birds are highly social and often live in family groups that defend territories throughout the year. Australian magpies can recognise people, communicate with a wide range of calls and work together to protect nests and young birds from predators.

An Australian magpie.

Australian magpies often search for insects and worms on open lawns and grasslands.

Where do Australian magpies live?

Australian magpies live across most of Australia in places with open ground and scattered trees. They are commonly found in parks, sports fields, school grounds, farms, open forests and suburban streets. These birds prefer habitats where they can walk across grass while searching for insects and other small animals.

Australian magpies are very common in Sydney and are often seen throughout Field of Mars Reserve and Lane Cove National Park. Students may notice them singing from tall trees, searching for food on ovals or protecting nesting territories during spring. Family groups usually remain in the same area for many years.

Australian magpies live in open habitats with trees, shrubs and grassy areas.

What do Australian magpies eat?

Australian magpies mainly feed on insects, worms, spiders and other small animals found in soil or grass. They use their strong beaks to pull insects and larvae from the ground. They may also eat seeds, small reptiles, frogs and scraps of food left by people.

Australian magpies play an important role in food webs because they help control insect populations and provide food for larger predators. Young magpies need protein-rich food to grow, so adult birds spend a lot of time searching for insects during the breeding season.

Australian magpies use their strong beaks to find insects and other small animals.

What do Australian magpies sound like?

Australian magpies are famous for their loud musical calls. Their warbling songs include whistles, clicks, piping sounds and complex melodies that can carry across long distances. Birds in the same family group often sing together to communicate and defend their territory.

Many people consider the Australian magpie one of Australia’s best songbirds. Students may hear magpies calling early in the morning or after rain. Young birds also make softer begging calls while being fed by adults.

Baby magpies make loud begging calls when they are hungry.

What is the life cycle of Australian magpies?

Australian magpies usually breed during spring. Males and females work together to build a bowl-shaped nest from sticks, grass and mud high in a tree. Females lay eggs and both parents help feed and protect the chicks after they hatch.

Young magpies leave the nest after several weeks but often remain with their family group for many months. Older siblings may even help care for younger birds. Australian magpies can live for more than 20 years and often stay in the same territory throughout their lives.

Magpies make messy nests high up in trees.

Adult Australian magpies care for and feed their young after they leave the nest.

What adaptations do Australian magpies have to help them survive?

Australian magpies have strong legs that help them walk and run across the ground while searching for food. Their sharp beaks are useful for catching insects, digging in soil and defending themselves. Their black-and-white feathers help break up their outline in dappled light and shade.

Australian magpies are also highly intelligent birds with strong memories and social behaviour. They communicate using a wide range of calls and can recognise familiar people and places. During breeding season, adults may swoop at animals or people that come too close to nests. This behaviour helps protect vulnerable chicks from danger.

Australian magpies defend their nests by warning or swooping at threats.

Why are Australian magpies important?

Australian magpies are important predators in Australian ecosystems. They help control populations of insects and other small animals that live in soil and grasslands. Their feeding behaviour also helps recycle nutrients through the environment.

These birds are also an important part of Australian culture and everyday life. Many people recognise their songs as a familiar sound of parks, schools and bushland. Australian magpies help students learn about bird behaviour, habitats, territorial animals and food webs in local environments.

Australian magpies are an important part of local food webs and urban ecosystems.

How can you help Australian magpies?

People can help Australian magpies by protecting trees, bushland and open grassy habitats. Keeping parks and school grounds healthy provides places for magpies to feed, nest and raise young birds. Students can also help by placing rubbish in bins and avoiding disturbing nesting birds.

During swooping season, it is important to give nesting magpies space and move calmly through their territory. Feeding wild magpies unsuitable food can make birds unhealthy, so it is best to let them find natural food in the environment.

Young Australian magpies need safe habitats with trees, shelter and natural food sources.

Have you read Waddle Giggle Gargle by Pamela Allen?

Waddle Giggle Gargle by Pamela Allen. Published by Picture Puffin, 1996.

Related fact sheets

More bird fact sheets

• Birds fact sheet – Learn about bird features, life cycles, adaptations and roles in ecosystems.
• Australian raven fact sheet – Compare magpies with another intelligent black native bird.
• Magpie lark fact sheet – Learn about a smaller black-and-white bird often confused with magpies.
• Butcherbird fact sheet – Explore another songbird that hunts insects and small animals.
• Laughing kookaburra fact sheet – Discover another familiar bird with loud calls and hunting behaviour.

Habitats and ecosystems

• Field of Mars Reserve fact sheet – Learn about the local bushland, waterways and wildlife habitats where magpies may be seen.
• Eucalypt forest fact sheet – Explore a native forest habitat used by many Sydney birds.

Animals that share this habitat

• Noisy miner fact sheet – Find out about another territorial bird common in parks and gardens.
• Brush turkey fact sheet – Learn about another large ground-foraging bird found in eastern Australia.
• Eastern blue-tongued lizard fact sheet – Discover a reptile that also lives in gardens, parks and bushland edges.

Food webs and ecological relationships

• Insects fact sheet – Explore the animals that provide food for magpies and many other birds.
• True bug fact sheet – Learn about insects that are part of grassland, garden and bushland food webs.
• Fly fact sheet – Discover insects that help recycle nutrients and provide food for birds.

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