Australian Magpie
Gymnorhina tibicen
Meet the Australian Magpie
Habitat & Range
Australian Magpies are found throughout most of Australia, including Tasmania. They live in open forests, woodlands, grasslands, farmland, parks and other areas where open ground occurs alongside trees.
Trees provide important nesting, roosting and lookout sites, while open grassy areas give magpies access to many of the insects and other foods they find on the ground.
What's on the Menu?
Australian Magpies are opportunistic omnivores. Much of their natural diet consists of insects and other invertebrates, including beetles, worms, caterpillars and spiders.
They may also eat small animals and a variety of other natural foods when available.
Magpies often walk across grass while listening and watching carefully for prey hidden beneath the surface.
Amazing Adaptations
Magpies have a strong, pointed bill that is ideal for probing soil and leaf litter and capturing small prey.
Their excellent eyesight and hearing help them locate food, while strong legs allow them to spend considerable time walking and foraging on the ground.
Australian Magpies are also intelligent, highly social birds capable of learning about their surroundings and recognising familiar individuals.
Did You Know?
Australian Magpies have one of Australia's most recognisable bird songs. Their rich, flute-like calls are sometimes known as carolling.
Family groups use a variety of calls to communicate, defend their territory and stay in contact with one another.
Behaviour
Australian Magpies are social birds and commonly live in territorial family groups.
During the day they spend considerable time foraging on the ground, calling, interacting with other group members and watching their surroundings.
During the breeding season, some wild magpies may defend the area around their nest. Giving nesting birds space and moving calmly through their territory helps reduce disturbance.
Conservation & Threats
Australian Magpies are widespread and have adapted well to many environments modified by people.
Individual birds can still be harmed by vehicle collisions, entanglement, domestic animals, inappropriate feeding and other human-related hazards.
Maintaining mature trees, native vegetation and healthy insect populations helps provide suitable habitat and natural food for magpies and many other native birds.
Australian Magpies at Trowunna
Trowunna is home to two very unusual Australian Magpies, Penguin and Maggie, whose white plumage makes them look very different from the familiar black-and-white magpies most people see.
Their unusual appearance provides a wonderful opportunity to talk about colouration, individual variation and the biology behind the appearance of wildlife.
Like other native birds in our care, they also help visitors learn about natural behaviour and the importance of protecting Tasmania's native wildlife.
How You Can Help
- Protect mature trees and native vegetation used for nesting and shelter.
- Keep cats contained and dogs under control around native birds.
- Give nesting magpies plenty of space.
- Avoid feeding wild magpies processed human foods.
- Dispose of fishing line, netting and other entanglement hazards responsibly.
- Report injured native birds to an appropriate wildlife rescue service.
Wildlife Welfare Comes First
Please allow Trowunna's magpies to rest, forage and interact naturally without being chased or crowded.
Do not touch, pick up or feed the birds unless directed by a Trowunna wildlife keeper. Always give wildlife the choice to move away from people.