These striking black and white birds can be found most mornings patrolling the edges of my garden beds. In their breeding season they can get very (very) cranky and swoop people at times. The most remarkable thing about the swooping is that the birds can remember who they dislike from season to season!
I really like having these birds in the garden because of their calls - its called "carolling" and it has to be one of the most distinctive sounds of Australia. You can here it here.
I love that red eye in the last picture.
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Cheers - SM
sharp-looking birds! intelligent, too! their warbling, screechy call is unique. :)
ReplyDeletethanks for hosting, stewart!
Interesting ... the color is certainly the same as "our" magpies, but otherwise they don't look like them, so I was interested to read your explanation. Their call sounds much more interesting too, as ours are definitely crow like in that.
ReplyDeleteThank you as always!
Sharp eys on that bird ,Very nice photos ,Nette
ReplyDeleteBeautiful shots of the magpie bird.
ReplyDeleteCranky, but still great lookers!! Boom & Gary of the Vermilon River, Canada.
ReplyDeleteWhat super characters and their warbling calls are far more interesting than our UK inhabitants.
ReplyDeleteSuperb series of shots Stewart.
You got some wonderful shots Stewart and I too like the red eye in the last one - looks really smart with the black and white of the feathers!
ReplyDeleteThanks always for your gracious hosting duties!
Great shots of these birds! I had a backyard full of them in Victor. They would line up on the deck rail in the morning waiting to get table scraps!
ReplyDeleteLove the black and white plumage! Very regal looking birds! That last shot is my favorite. Great eye and I like the two-tone beak!
ReplyDeleteBeautiful looking birds.
ReplyDeleteThey're a bit different to the Magpies at home Stewart!
ReplyDeleteSuper images, but I think that the 2nd is my favourite.
Well done and keep up the good work!
Sensational shots and I really love the coloring on this beauty.
ReplyDeleteQuite an interesting bird, and its call is unusual and mostly musical. Its "upside-down" color scheme (light on top and dark on back) is reminiscent of that of the Bobolink here in the US.
ReplyDeleteWe don't have any Magpies where we live, but when I was in Colorado they were everywhere. Those Magpies had a long, beautiful tail with the black and white coloring. They are ornery and sneaky like the crows and will come snatch food from you given a chance. They certainly don't have the wonderful flutey call that your Magpies do. How nice that such a pretty bird, both in looks and sound, are common and can be appreciated by you on a daily basis. Very interesting post, Stewart. Enjoyed it ...
ReplyDeleteAndrea @ From The Sol
Splendid photos of your magpie! It differs a bit from the swedish one!
ReplyDeleteHave a nice week! Greetings Pia
What a handsome bird!
ReplyDeleteGreat serie!
ReplyDeleteMagpies are cute!
Lovely pictures for all moods of AUS Magpie! Thanks for hosting WBW!
ReplyDeleteWonderful shots of the magpie, they can be territorial especially when they have a nest nearby, but I love them.
ReplyDelete...they remember who they dislike?!!! Oh, oh...if ever I'm in Australia, I'll be very kind to them.
ReplyDeleteThey differ somewhat from the American Magpies, but still same coloring.
Very beautiful shots and captures Stewart!Our Magpies have diferent colours!Have a lovely day!!It's very cold in Melbounre!
ReplyDeleteDimi..
Your Magpies have better memories than I do. It is a handsome bird! Wonderful photos, Stewart. Thanks for hosting, have a great week!
ReplyDeleteWonderful photos of these Magpies Stewart. I am happy to be able to add my link this week.
ReplyDeleteGreat photos of the "Magies" and so very Australian!
ReplyDeleteLoving your birds! They are so photogenic!
ReplyDeleteSuch a unique bird. And to think that it's most closely related to shrikes. The red eye reminds me of our towhees...
ReplyDeleteThanks for including link to their beautiful song. I can see why they're sometimes referred to as the "Australian Flute Bird."
I love these birds. Thanks for these close-ups.
ReplyDeleteNice photos Stewart! In the last photo, it was enough that he was giving you the old stink eye, but to give you the old red stink eye is too much!
ReplyDeleteThanks for hosting, Stewart. It's always enjoyable to see the wide variety of birds here.
ReplyDeleteMagpies are one of my favorite birds and your variety looks amazing! I've only seen one of these birds and I'd love to spot more:)
ReplyDeleteCool photos. They look a little different from the magpies we have in our area.
ReplyDeleteWonderful photographs, Stewart!
ReplyDeleteGreat shots and as always, very interesting! Thanks for hosting!!
ReplyDeleteBeautiful pictures of the magpie, Stewart.
ReplyDeleteRegards, Irma
The things I really miss when overseas, are the maggies at dawn and the smell of eucalyptus.
ReplyDeleteBeautiful markings on this bird! LOVE their black and white :)
ReplyDeleteI think they have more character than the northern hemisphere ones..........
ReplyDeletelove the magpies too Stewart; quite intelligent bird and their call beautiful I agree
ReplyDeleteA unique looking bird with an interesting call. Thanks for hosting and the link to hear the carolling.
ReplyDeleteJudith, Canada
I will have to hear the carolling for myself. Thanks for the link. And Magpies sure got the short end of the stick in the naming department.
ReplyDeleteAwesome captures! Truly. The feather detail and markings are perfect. A very handsome and striking bird.
ReplyDeleteCool shots- I really like that first one!
ReplyDeleteBeautiful shots. Our Magpies are a little different than yours and as others have said acting more like crows or Ravens. Noisy, bossy, messy birds but beautiful. I haven't gotten a good picture of one because they speed away when they see me. Actually there aren't ny on the west side of the mts here but plenty on the east side of the mountains. . MB
ReplyDeleteBeautiful birds, I too love those bright eyes.
ReplyDeleteThanks Stewart for your comment on the lamp posts. I tend to think this is a crow, Ravens have long feathers around their throat area. Although these shots are at a distance it is a bit hard to see, but my first thought was Crow.
ReplyDeleteA bird that holds a grudge! How fun!
ReplyDeleteIt's hard to tell the difference, from a distance, but it doesn't really matter, they are in the same family, and most people wouldn't know anyway. Without sounding like a know it all, I did some more research, and found that Ravens also are more stocky, have a shinier coat, and a bigger, bulkier and hooked beak, and so now dear Stewart I really know how to tell the difference between crows and ravens, and will be studying them intently, to see exactly what we have here. See you next wildbird Wednesday.
ReplyDeleteI did find some crows in Australia called little crows which resemble ravens with the long feathers around the throat, so who knows, they seem to be different in different parts of the state and Australia. I wonder if there would be interbreeding between crows and ravens.
ReplyDeleteGreat shots, Stewart!! I love Magpies!
ReplyDeleteThanks for hosting :)
Beautiful birds. They look very allert.
ReplyDeleteAll shots are outstanding...
ReplyDeleteWonderful shots of this beautiful bird! I love the musical, flutelike sound it makes.
ReplyDeleteGreat shots Stewart. It sounds like your personal experience of the birds either liking or taking exception to someone?
ReplyDeleteOh My goodness their song truly is incredible. I would find such joy in hearing that, but certainly would always want to be in their good favor, during breeding season as well. beautiful birds~
ReplyDeleteGreat series on the Magpie.
ReplyDeleteyour magpie look a a bit like our crow. :) Thanks for the sound link. The sound was very nice.
ReplyDelete