Australian Magpie – Did You Know…

… That the Australian magpie is a medium-sized black and white bird native to Australia and southern New Guinea? The Australian Magpie is not related to the European Magpie. The adult Australian magpie is a fairly robust bird ranging from 37 to 43 cm (14.5 to 17 in) in length, with distinctive black and white plumage, gold brown eyes and a solid wedge-shaped bluish-white and black bill. The male and female are similar in appearance, and can be distinguished by differences in back markings. With its long legs, the Australian magpie walks rather than waddles or hops and spends much time on the ground.

Described as one of Australia’s most accomplished songbirds, the Australian magpie has an array of complex vocalisations. It is omnivorous, with the bulk of its varied diet made up of invertebrates. It is generally sedentary and territorial throughout its range. Common and widespread, it has adapted well to human habitation and is a familiar bird of parks, gardens and farmland in Australia and New Guinea. This species is commonly fed by households around the country, but in spring a small minority of breeding magpies (almost always males) become aggressive and swoop and attack those who approach their nests.

While we have this myth in Switzerland (anywhere else in Europe?) that magpies bring snow, this of course can not really be said here in Down Under. But it honestly still gets me every time I see one of those beautiful birds out there. The word “snow” will immediately pop up in my mind… Some things you can just not forget 😉