This factsheet contains information sourced from members of Tweed Valley Wildlife Carers, members of other groups, independent advice, and research.

We hope you find the information below useful, and it helps to answer your questions on this subject. If you have any further questions, please feel free to contact us on the email link below left.

Living with Magpies

The Australian Magpie

The Australian Magpie Gymnorhina tibicens is one of our more common, and quite distinctive birds. Belonging to the same family as Butcherbirds and Currawongs, our Magpie lives in bushland, urban, and rural environments. Its favoured habitat is lightly wooded bushland (which many of our gardens resemble) using the trees for nesting and roosting, and grassy areas on which it feeds. Magpies forage on the ground, amongst leaf litter, and our lawns for insects, spiders, worms, lizards, and mice.

Magpies are territorial and social birds forming three distinct groups. On the top rung of the social ladder is the permanent territorial group. This group is large enough to defend its range, whilst not depleting resources. Second, come the marginal groups. These birds live in lower quality territories, which may not sustain the birds all year round with food and suitable nesting spots. On the bottom rung of the ladder comes the loose non-territorial flocks made up of immature birds, and displaced adults. These flocks are highly mobile moving in and out of other territories in search of food.

Why do Magpies sing in the morning?

Magpie society is complex, co-operative (within the group) and highly territorial. The beautiful and familiar carolling or warbling, which is so uniquely Australian, usually takes place first thing in the morning. At first light Magpie society begins its day by reaffirming territorial boundaries with song. They are simply saying, "This is our bit - keep out!"

Springtime & Nesting

Magpie pairs breed in the spring, and nesting takes place from June to December. At about this time prime real estate is sought out, and the familiar 'basket of sticks' nest is built. This nest is often lined with grass, wool, hair, string, and even bits of wire. The eggs hatch in @ 20 days, and the nestlings spend about 4 weeks in the nest before fledging. At this stage the 'fledgers' are able to flutter, but not fly. The parents are feeding and teaching them, whilst on the ground, and unfortunately this is the time when many well meaning people pick up the 'helpless youngster', and hand it in to the nearest wildlife rescue group. In almost all cases this is unnecessary, as baby is actually doing just fine with two devoted parents, its skills improving daily. If you see a baby Magpie out on your lawn - please resist from rushing out to grab it. (For more information on this, see our orphaned baby birds fact sheet.) As the youngsters grow and develop, the parents will begin to stop feeding them to encourage them to fend for themselves. At about this time you may hear the plaintive begging calls. Again, this is natural, and although mum does not seem to care, she never strays far from her offspring.

Swooping - Just good parents

So why do our normally peaceful Magpies sometimes swoop? The answer is quite simple - Magpies are totally devoted parents. Breeding increases their natural territorial behaviour to defend against ALL perceived threats. This includes other birds, dogs, cats, and of course - us. This period usually only last about 8 weeks (until the young are flying). Most Magpies (it is usually the male who swoops) defend a territory of around 30 - 50 metres from the nest, and this defence takes the form of aggressive bluff, beak clacking, wing flapping, and occasionally making physical contact by pecking or scratching.

Note: It is not just Magpies who sometimes swoop. Butcherbirds, Currawongs, and Magpie-Larks sometimes do the same.

How to avoid being swooped