Australian Magpie

Gymnorhina tibicen

Iluka, E NSW IMG_1845 20190624 - black-back form, tibicen large, black trousers. CLICK for another: Moore Park Reserve,
Old Grevillea, NE NSW 20220615.

Notes: A butcherbird. Plumage pure glossy black & white; dull red eyes. All have black heads,
wings & underparts w. white shoulders, white tail w. black terminal band. Male nape is white,
female light greyish-white. The main difference between the ssps is "saddle" markings on back
below nape. Black-backed subspecies have a black saddle and white nape. White-backed ssps
have a wholly white nape & saddle. Many complex calls, warbling, carolling, mimicry.

Range from Wikipedia (accessed 1 Feb 2021)
Louisa Lake, Kennedy Dev Rd, FN Qld IMG_3227 20180527 - black-back form, terraereginae longer bill, shorter wings & tarsus Mt Etna Caves Caravan Park, E Qld IMG_5923 20220625 - black-back form, terraereginae CLICK for pic of immature: Mt Carbine, FN Qld 20170714. Mt Hart Stn, Gibb River Rd, N WA IMG_9768 20180826 - black-back form, eylandtensis smaller, long bill, white trousers.
CLICK for immature bird. Black Rock, S Vic IMG_2987 20180118 - white-backed form, tyrannica male - v large, broad black tail band. CLICK for female:
back light grey w. white feather edging. Mallacoota SE Vic 20190305. Bear Gully Camp, SE Vic IMG_8664 20211124 - white-backed form, tyrannica female. CLICK to see her feeding juvenile. Stewarts Bay, Port Arthur, SE Tas IMG_3780 20210603 - white-backed form, hypoleuca male, similar to tyrannica, but
smaller. CLICK for pic of immature bird. Currie, King Island, Tas IMG_1326 20211216 - white-backed form, hypoleuca female, similar to tyrannica, but
smaller. Dwellingup, SW WA IMG_7903 20181019 - western form, dorsalis male - white back, similar to tyrannica. CLICK for pic of
immature bird. Emu Beach, Albany, SW WA IMG_0672 20181030 - western form, dorsalis female: little sign of white on back of some, on
others white fringes broad & scalloping very obvious. Black Rock, Melbourne, S Vic IMG_1487 20210926 - white-backed form, tyrannica male Green Hill Lake, Ararat, C Vic MVI_2271 20190508 - white-backed form, tyrannica male? Kings Park, Perth, SW WA MVI_4153 20090702 - western form, dorsalis female - scalloped black mantle & back, feathers edged in white