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Grallina cyanoleuca
The Magpie-lark is neither a magpie nor a lark! It was named by European settlers to Australia after two groups of Northern hemisphere birds they were familiar with. Once relegated to a subfamily in the family Dicruridae (drongos), it is has now placed in the family Monarchidae (monarch flycatchers) since 2008.
City park
Adult Magpie-larks live as pairs in permanent territories, which they will strongly defend against intruders. Magpie-larks are one of the 200 or so bird species known to sing in duet. Each partner produces about one note a second, but a half-second apart. It is hard to tell that there are actually two birds singing.
Spotted on Apr 8, 2014
Submitted on Jun 18, 2014
2 Comments
Thanks Neil! They certainly have character.
Nice one, Daniele. I love these guys!! The eyebrow makes them look sinister. Even better on the Willy Wagtails, which makes them look positively evil. haha