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Project Noah Nature School
Cracticus tibicen
Large black and white bird with a sharp beak and red eyes.
Parks.
Spotted on Jun 11, 2008
Submitted on Jul 3, 2011
3 Comments
The area where these photographs were taken contains at least 5 of the 8 sub-species found in Australia, all of which have various plumages and which in most cases can only be separated accurately by very close examination or DNA testing.
sarahaw1981, your information is incorrect. Different sub-species belonging to the same genus-species Binomial are allowed as a single spotting. Please acquaint yourselves fully with our FAQs and Terms and stop giving out false information to our users.
These are different birds, and at that they are also different sub-species.
The second Magpie is:
Gymnorhina tibicen or the Black-backed Magpie is the nominate race. Its back is mainly black and is widespread throughout eastern, northern and western Australia.
The third Magpie is:
Gymnorhina tibicen leuconota or the White-Backed Magpie occupies large areas of South Australia, Victoria and New South Wales. It interbreeds successfully with the Black-Backed Magpie.
It is not possible to tell the sub-species of the first Magpie, but as for the other two they should be two separate sightings as they are different sub-species.
Please re-post this beautiful sighting correctly, as two posts.
My information came from:
http://trevorsbirding.com/australian-mag...