Australian Magpie, Alice Springs Desert Park, Australia
by Venetia Featherstone-Witty
Title
Australian Magpie, Alice Springs Desert Park, Australia
Artist
Venetia Featherstone-Witty
Medium
Photograph - Photographs
Description
Taken at Taken in Alice Springs Desert Park, Australia The Australian magpie (Gymnorhina tibicen) is a medium-sized black and white passerine bird native to Australia and southern New Guinea. Although once considered to be three separate species, it is now considered to be one, with nine recognised subspecies. A member of the Artamidae, the Australian magpie is placed in its own genus Gymnorhina and is most closely related to the black butcherbird (Melloria quoyi). It is not, however, related to the European magpie, which is a corvid.
The adult Australian magpie is a fairly robust bird ranging from 37 to 43 cm (14.5 to 17 in) in length, with distinctive black and white plumage, gold brown eyes and a solid wedge-shaped bluish-white and black bill. The male and female are similar in appearance, and can be distinguished by differences in back markings. The male has pure white feathers on the back of the head and the female has white blending to grey feathers on the back of the head. With its long legs, the Australian magpie walks rather than waddles or hops and spends much time on the ground.
Described as one of Australia's most accomplished songbirds, the Australian magpie has an array of complex vocalisations. It is omnivorous, with the bulk of its varied diet made up of invertebrates. It is generally sedentary and territorial throughout its range. Common and widespread, it has adapted well to human habitation and is a familiar bird of parks, gardens and farmland in Australia and New Guinea. This species is commonly fed by households around the country, but in spring a small minority of breeding magpies (almost always males) become aggressive and swoop and attack those who approach their nests.
Magpies were introduced into New Zealand in the 1860s but have subsequently been accused of displacing native birds and are now treated as a pest species. Introductions also occurred in the Solomon Islands and Fiji, where the birds are not considered an invasive species. The Australian magpie is the mascot of several Australian sporting teams, most notably the Collingwood Magpies, the Western Suburbs Magpies and Port Adelaide Magpies.
FEATURED 1/15/18 in "Animal Photographs"
FEATURED 1/15/18 in "FAA Portraits - Birds"
FEATURED 1/16/18 in "Wild Birds of the World"
FEATURED 1/17/18 in "Wildlife One A Day"
FEATURED 1/17/18 in "Kingdom Animalia"
FEATURED 1/17/18 in "Poetic Poultry"
FEATURED 1/23/18 in "Pin Me Daily"
FEATURED 1/25/18 in "Australia in Pictures"
FEATURED 2/3/18 in "Your Very Best Photography"
FEATURED 2/16/18 in "FAA Portrait Gallery"
FEATURED 2/18/19 in "Macro Marvels"
FEATURED 2/20/18 in "Macro Photography"
FEATURED 3/17/18 in "New FAA Uploads"
FEATURED 4/11/18 in "Birds of the World"
FEATURED 7/30/18 in "Animal Photographs"
FEATURED 5/3/21 in "Beautiful Birds"
FEATURED 6/4/21 in "Birds in Australia"
Uploaded
January 13th, 2018
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Comments (18)
Lesley Evered
A very nice portrait photo.....voted for in the THE ALPHABET OF BIRDS IN AUSTRALIA - A, B, C, D in the group Birds IN Australia.
Anita Faye
Venetia, a wow capture! Featured on Poetic Poultry Group! https://fineartamerica.com/groups/poetic-poultry-.html
John M Bailey
Congratulations on your feature in the Fine Art America Group "Images That Excite You!"
William Tasker
This is a wonderful capture, Venetia! I thoroughly enjoyed seeing it! Your beautiful image has been featured by Wild Birds Of The World, a nature photography group. L/F
Venetia Featherstone-Witty replied:
Thank you William for the feature in "Wild Birds Of The World" and for the l/f :)