Magpies
Gymnorhina tibicen
Magpies were one of few native Australian birds to benefit from European settlement. The clearing of land for housing and farmland created a new landscape dominated by short grass and few trees. Not only did this meet the needs of settlers, but it also provided large areas of ideal habitat for magpies.
With their black and white plumage and pleasant carolling, flutelike song, the magpie has become a common sight and sound in the suburbs and farmlands of Australia.
Today people not only enjoy hearing their musical calls, but also welcome magpies into their gardens to help control a variety of insect pests.
In urban areas, magpies can become used to people, but in rural areas they remain shy.
During their breeding season, magpies will defend their nest from any animals likely to threaten their territory, nest, mate, or chicks.
In suburbia, incidents like people throwing stones or trying to rescue a stranded chick can trigger the magpie into believing people are a potential threat during breeding season. Even so, only a small proportion of magpies ever attack people.
Take a few simple steps to properly respect magpies, and enjoy sharing space with these attractive native birds.
What does it look like?
A medium-sized bird at about 40cm long, the magpie is black and white.
Adult males have a pure white nape and rump, while females are grey in these areas and are slightly smaller.
Young magpies have greyish dark markings and dark bills. Their bills don't develop the pale blue base of the adults until they reach two years of age.
The magpie's exact lifespan isn't known, but some have lived up to 30 years.
Where does it live?
Magpies like to live in open forest and woodlands with grassy areas - similar to parks, suburban gardens and farms.
Magpies gather food, build their nest, and raise their young within a clearly defined territory.
A territory consists of a mated pair and its chicks. Pairs with the most suitable territory have the best chance of survival and tend to stay within these areas all year.
Non-breeding birds will form a casual group ranging from two to three magpies in urban areas, up to twenty in rural areas.
A lot of a magpie's time is spent defending its territory from other magpies. Another bird might try to enter a territory to take over from a dead bird, to breed, or to reduce the size of a neighbour's territory.
What does it eat?
Magpies mainly eat insects found on or near the ground.
Household and garden pests such as the lawn-damaging scarab beetle are also on the magpie's menu.
Magpies have extremely sharp hearing and can find larvae such as lawn grubs quite easily. This means a magpie can help to control garden pests in a natural way, reducing the need for harmful pesticides.
When does it breed?
Magpies breed from July to December with a peak in August-October.
At least 2-3ha of territory are needed before magpies can breed successfully. More area (up to 25ha) may be needed in poorer land.
In urban areas, the territory consists of areas such as a park, school yard or suburban garden. Not many suburban territories can support more than a pair of magpies and their chicks.
Pairs mate for life. But if a mate is lost, it's often quickly replaced or territory boundaries are changed.
Nests made of baskets of sticks lined with grass, roots and fibres are generally placed high in a eucalypt tree. Three to four blotched eggs are laid and these hatch in about three weeks.
A female magpie rears her young more or less unaided, but may not be able to successfully raise the chicks unless a dominant male protects her.
Four weeks after birth, the young chicks leave the nest. If a magpie loses her first clutch, she will often lay again.
Young magpies can be very demanding, squawking loudly for food. Adults drive chicks away once they're independent, usually by early February.
When eggs or young are in the nest, the dominant male magpie in particular may show concern for his chicks by defending the territory from intruders including other magpies, cats and people. And while a magpie may swoop a person, very few will do so, as people aren't normally seen as a threat.
But remember! Aggressive behaviour in a magpie will usually last for only six to eight weeks during the breeding season, so try to avoid nesting areas where magpies are known to swoop.
Where is it seen?
Magpies live in grassy areas with trees and are found across much of Australia in suburbs, cities and farms. You can also see magpies in many national parks but they're scarce in dry areas.
They live in most parts of Queensland except coastal far north Queensland and Cape York Peninsula.
Threats to survival
To survive, the magpie needs trees for nesting, open ground for foraging, and water. While these are provided in abundance in urban environments, suburban magpies are also exposed to harm from people throwing things at them or destroying their nests. These birds are also commonly killed by cars.
Magpies can also be killed by domestic cats and a range of native predators including goannas, peregrine falcons, crows and ravens.
How can you help?
The magpie is an intelligent bird. The male will attack and drive off any animal likely to threaten its territory, nest, mate or chicks. In its natural habitat people are not seen as a threat.
But in a suburban environment, this isn't the case. Irresponsible actions such as throwing stones have made magpies think people are a potential threat during breeding season.
If you deliberately or accidentally provoke a magpie, you're likely to be attacked. The major cause of magpie attacks has been when people have tried to rescue a stranded chick.
People should rescue a chick only after sundown so the male bird can't see it being taken. As the father fiercely defends the chick, a dog or cat is unlikely to take it.
Remember that it's not cruel to leave a chick in the care of its father!
To defend their territory, nesting magpies swoop on intruders, beating their wings, clacking their beaks and occasionally pecking (usually on the head).
In especially dangerous situations, contact the department hotline (1300 130 372) in south-east Queensland or your nearest Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service office in other parts of the state for advice. When a male magpie is removed, another is likely to take its place within one day. The new male will also help raise the chicks and defend the territory even though the chicks are not his.
Living safely with it
Use the following techniques to avoid or reduce the impact of a magpie attack.
- Never deliberately provoke or harass a magpie. Throwing sticks or stones at magpies usually makes a magpie more defensive.
- Avoid areas where magpies are known to swoop. (Remember, magpie aggression lasts only a few weeks and magpies usually only defend a small area of about 100m in radius around their nest.)
- Find the bird and keep watching it when entering a magpie territory. If swooped on, don't crouch in fear or stop. Move on quickly but don't run.
- Bike riders - dismount and walk through nesting magpie territory, wear a helmet, and fit an orange traffic flag.
- Wear a hat or carry an umbrella to protect yourself. A magpie will attack initially from behind. When a magpie is tricked into believing the target is alert, an attack is stopped or not even started.
- Learning to live with magpies can be rewarding. You can observe local magpies, study their behaviour, and listen to their songs. We share the same living space. Learning to live together is an important step towards building a better living environment.
For more information about magpies and other wildlife, and how to live with them, contact the department hotline 1300 130 372 (south-east Queensland only) or your local Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service office in other parts of the state.
Last updated: 24 August 2005
Related information
Did you know?
In northern Australia, male magpies have black backs. In South Australia — where they are the State bird emblem — their backs are white.
Tunes for turf.
Neighbouring groups of magpies will battle for territory with song.
Munch, munch.
Magpies are the gardener’s friend — they eat insect pests.
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Many of Australia’s most popular sporting clubs use the magpie as their emblem.