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Magpie-lark

Did you know?

The Magpie-lark's mud nest seems to link it closely with the mud-nest builders of the Family Corcoracidae, the White-winged Chough, and the Apostlebird. But it actually belongs in the Family Dicruridae (Monarchs, Fantails, and Drongos).

Calls
The 'pee-o-wit' or 'pee-wee' call is frequently given as a duet, each bird raising its wings in turn, and has given rise to the colloquial name of Peewee.
Facts and Figures
Research Species: 
No
Minimum Size: 
26cm
Maximum Size: 
30cm
Average size: 
28cm
Average weight: 
92g
Clutch Size: 
3 to 5
Conservation Status
Federal: 
Secure
NSW: 
Secure
NT: 
Secure
QLD: 
Secure
SA: 
Secure
TAS: 
Not present
VIC: 
Secure
WA: 
Secure
Basic Information
Scientific Name: 
Grallina cyanoleuca
Featured bird groups: 
Survey species
Top 40 Bird Songs
Atlas Number: 
415
What does it look like?
Description: 

The Magpie-lark is distinctively marked in black and white. The thin whitish bill and pale iris separate it from other similarly coloured species. The adult male Magpie-lark has a white eyebrow and black face, while the female has an all-white face with no white eyebrow. Young birds have a black forehead, a white eyebrow and a white throat. The Magpie-lark is often referred to as a Peewee or Pee Wee, after the sound of its distinctive calls.

Similar species: 

The name Magpie-lark is quite misleading, as the species has no link with either the magpies or the larks. However, the Magpie-lark is sometimes confused with the Australian Magpie, Gymnorhina tibicen. While both species are black and white, the Magpie-lark is noticeably smaller than the Australian Magpie.

Where does it live?
Distribution: 

Magpie-larks are confined to Australasia, being found throughout Australia (although only a rare vagrant to Tasmania), southern New Guinea and Timor.

Habitat: 

Magpie-larks are found in almost any habitat except rainforests and the driest deserts and are familiar urban birds.

Seasonal movements: 

Seasonal migrations;non-breeding and young birds form large nomadic flocks, sometimes consisting of several thousand individuals; mainly move north in autumn/winter and south in spring/summer

What does it do?
Feeding: 

The Magpie-lark is mostly ground-dwelling, and is usually seen slowly searching on the ground for a variety of insects and their larvae, as well as earthworms and freshwater invertebrates.

Breeding: 

Magpie-larks build an unusual mud nest and generally breed from August to December (though may occasionally breed outside this time). During the breeding season  both the male and female gather wet mud and construct a bowl-shaped nest on a horizontal branch, or similar site, often up to 20 m above the ground. The bowl is lined with feathers and grasses. The male and female birds often sit side by side and call alternately, each raising and lowering their wings as they do so. Magpie-larks aggressively defend their nest and territory, which may occupy up to 10 ha. Both parents share the incubation duties and care for the young. If conditions are favourable, more than one brood may be reared in a year.

Living with us

Magpie-larks can be aggressive during breeding season.

References: 
Field Guide to the Birds of Australia.
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