Scientific name: Cracticus tibicen
Origin
Native
Status
Protected
Colour
Black and white bird; males have a white nape and rump, while females have a grey nape and rump. Their bill is grey-white.
Size
approximately 400 mm long, females are smaller.
Life Span
25 years
Nesting habits
Makes their nests in upright forks towards the outer canopies of Eucalypts trees. They also nest on power poles, electrical transformers, and roofs or buildings.
No. of eggs
2–5
Incubation
about 3 weeks
Feeding
Eats small animals like lizards, frogs, worms, insects, and other arthropods. They also feed on grains.
Impacts
It plays an important role in biological pest management, as it feeds on many insects like mosquitoes and midges, as well as other arthropods. They can also be beneficial to agriculture because they prey on insect pests.
Magpies are territorial birds and are known to attack and swoop humans and pests during their breeding season, due to this behaviour they can be a nuisance.