Bird guideMagpie-lark

Fiercely territorial during breeding season, it will dive-bomb and attack its own reflection in windows and car mirrors.

⚠️Not listed
🍃Indigenous: Gurrugurruwaḻbaḻg, A-Rdirlkrdirlk, Barlgbarlgurrurru, Dildilgurrurru, Nganaaṉawaḻbaḻg, Rdirlkrdirlk, Piwi, Ḏelili, Barrindjiin, Gulirrij-Gulirrij, Marliplip

At a glance

FamilyMonarch Flycatchers
SizeMedium
RarityCommon
HabitatInhabits parks, gardens, and urban areas.
Best timeReported across most months in Victoria, with no narrow seasonal peak.

Sounds

Sound sample
0:000:00
Recorded by Marc Anderson

Range map

Range map

200approx hotspots
1351049approx records
6states
Low confidenceMediumHigh confidence

Aggregated occurance data is sourced from 14 different actively-updating datasets including eBird Australia, iNaturalist Australia, BirdLife Australia, and multiple state-based bird surveys through Atlas of Living Australia.

Species notes

Overview

Inhabits parks, gardens, and urban areas. Aggressive and noisy, often attacking its own reflection in car mirrors and windows. Much smaller than Australian Magpie, with a smaller pale bill.

Behavior

Male black above, white below, with white wing patch, white face patch, white eye, black bib, black eyeline; female has white throat and immature a dark eye.

Regional timing

Queensland
Peak: April to November342,199 records
Victoria
Peak: July to May372,340 records
Northern Territory
Peak: June to October62,801 records
Western Australia
Peak: March to November77,967 records
New South Wales
Peak: July to April349,022 records
Tasmania
Peak: January46 records
South Australia
Peak: July to January44,038 records
Australian Capital Territory
Peak: August to April101,086 records
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