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Difference between revisions of "Magpie-lark" - BirdForum Opus

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(→‎External Links: Added alternative common names to GSearch)
 
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[[Image:Magpie-lark.jpg|thumb|550px|right|Photo by Corwin <br/> Photographed: Melbourne, Australia.]]
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'''Alternative names: Australian Magpie-lark; Little Magpie; Murray Magpie; Mudlark; Pied Grallina'''
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[[Image:1568magpie lark DSC 00501.JPG|thumb|500px|right|Male<br />Photo &copy; by {{user|Neil|Neil}} <br />Sydney, [[Australia]], September 2004]]
 
;[[: Category:Grallina|Grallina]] cyanoleuca
 
;[[: Category:Grallina|Grallina]] cyanoleuca
 
==Identification==
 
==Identification==
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26 to 30 cm. Pied in black and white, female has a white throat, the male a black throat and a black eyestripe. Juveniles and immatures of either sex have the white throat of the female and the black eyestripe of the male.
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25 - 30cm (9¾-11¾ in). A common to abundant passerine of Australia:
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====Male====
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[[Image:Magpie-lark Female .JPG|thumb|300px|right|Female<br />Photo &copy; by {{user|DRMW|DRMW}} <br />Gosnells, Perth, [[Australia]], November 2009 ]]
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* Broad white line above eye
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* Large white patch from ear-[[Topography#General Anatomy|coverts]] down to side of neck
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* Glossy black rest of head, throat and upper breast
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* Glossy black hindneck to rump
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* White uppertail coverts and tail (with broad black subterminal area)
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* Black upperwing, most of secondary wing-coverts white
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* White underparts below breast
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* Ivory-coloured to creamy bill with blackish nasal groove
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* Dark bluish-grey to blackish legs
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====Female====
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* White forehead and throat
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* Broad black band from crown down side of face to chest, behind this a broad white area from the eye down to the shoulder, meeting the white underparts
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Juveniles have a mixed appearance between males and females with a black crown, a white stripe above the eye, a white throat and a white area from the eye to the shoulder.
 
==Distribution==
 
==Distribution==
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[[Australia]], [[New Guinea]], and [[Timor]].
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Found in [[Australia]] (except Tasmania and dry interior of Western Australia), extreme southern [[New Guinea]], and [[Timor]]. Introduced on Lord Howe Island.<br />
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Common to abundant in its range. Introductions in [[New Zealand]], [[Hawaii]] and in [[Fiji]] failed.
 
==Taxonomy==
 
==Taxonomy==
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There are two subspecies: ''cyanoleuca'' and ''neglecta''
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====Subspecies====
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[[Image:1421Mag-lark-b.jpg|thumb|350px|right|Juvenile<br />Photo &copy; by {{user|julien |julien }} <br />Lake Wendouree, [[Victoria]], [[Australia]], December 2004]]
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There are two subspecies<sup>[[#References|[1]]]</sup>:  
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*''G. c. neglecta'':
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:*Northern [[Australia]], extreme southern [[New Guinea]] and [[Timor]]
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*''G. c. cyanoleuca'':
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:*Mainland [[Australia]], except north and the most arid areas
 
==Habitat==
 
==Habitat==
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Widespread but is absent from deep forest; common in urban areas. Need mud and water for nest building.  
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Widespread but is absent from deep forest; common in urban areas. Needs mud and water for nest building. <br />
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Occurs from the lowlands up to 1000m, occasionally higher.
 
==Behaviour==
 
==Behaviour==
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Diet includes small creatures.
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Usually seen singly or in pairs. Young birds can form bigger groups.
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====Diet====
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Feeds mainly on invertebrates (like spiders, worms, insects and crustaceans), takes also small frogs and sometimes some seeds.
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Mainly foraging on the ground, walking or wading in muddy margins.
  
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It builds a round nest made of grass and plant material thickly plastered together with mud, and lined with grass, feathers and fur, which is placed on a flat branch somewhere near water. 3-5 eggs are laid and incubated by both parents.
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====Breeding====
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Breeding season related to rainfall and availability of mud for nest construction. A monogamous species, pairs stay together several years. The nest is an open cup made of plant material plastered with mud and lined with grass, feathers and fur. It's placed on a flat branch, usually near water. Lays 1 - 6 eggs. [[Pallid Cuckoo]], [[Australian Koel]] and [[Channel-billed Cuckoo]] are reported to parasitize this species.
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==Movements==
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Mainly a resident species, partly migratory in some parts of its range.
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==Gallery==
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Click on photo for larger image
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<gallery>
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Image:33804200516 75ae1d5847 b.jpg|Female<br />Photo &copy; by {{user|Dave+2x|Dave 2x}}<br />[[Perth area|Perth]], [[Australia]], March 2017
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Image:BF Magpie-Lark Nest. Editors thread.jpg|Dis-used nest<br />Photo &copy; by {{user|Delia+Todd|Delia Todd}} <br />[[Bowra Sanctuary|Bowra Sanctuary Back Dam]], Cunnamulla, [[Queensland]], 7 September 2019
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</gallery>
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==References==
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#{{Ref-Clements6thAug19}}#{{Ref-HBWVol14}}#{{Ref-Simpson98}}
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{{ref}}
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==External Links==
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{{GSearch|"Grallina cyanoleuca" {{!}} "Magpie-lark" {{!}} "Little_Magpie" {{!}} "Murray_Magpie" {{!}} "Mudlark" {{!}} "Pied Grallina"}}
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{{GS-checked}}
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<br />
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<br />
  
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==External Links==
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[[Category:Birds]] [[Category:Grallina]]
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{{GSearch|Grallina+cyanoleuca }}
 
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*[http://www.aviceda.org/abid/birdimages.php?action=birdspecies&fid=69&bid=1325 View more images of this species on the ABID]
 
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[[Category:Birds]] [[category:Grallina]]
 

Latest revision as of 11:24, 12 November 2022

Alternative names: Australian Magpie-lark; Little Magpie; Murray Magpie; Mudlark; Pied Grallina

Male
Photo © by Neil
Sydney, Australia, September 2004
Grallina cyanoleuca

Identification

25 - 30cm (9¾-11¾ in). A common to abundant passerine of Australia:

Male

Female
Photo © by DRMW
Gosnells, Perth, Australia, November 2009
  • Broad white line above eye
  • Large white patch from ear-coverts down to side of neck
  • Glossy black rest of head, throat and upper breast
  • Glossy black hindneck to rump
  • White uppertail coverts and tail (with broad black subterminal area)
  • Black upperwing, most of secondary wing-coverts white
  • White underparts below breast
  • Ivory-coloured to creamy bill with blackish nasal groove
  • Dark bluish-grey to blackish legs

Female

  • White forehead and throat
  • Broad black band from crown down side of face to chest, behind this a broad white area from the eye down to the shoulder, meeting the white underparts

Juveniles have a mixed appearance between males and females with a black crown, a white stripe above the eye, a white throat and a white area from the eye to the shoulder.

Distribution

Found in Australia (except Tasmania and dry interior of Western Australia), extreme southern New Guinea, and Timor. Introduced on Lord Howe Island.
Common to abundant in its range. Introductions in New Zealand, Hawaii and in Fiji failed.

Taxonomy

Subspecies

Juvenile
Photo © by julien
Lake Wendouree, Victoria, Australia, December 2004

There are two subspecies[1]:

  • G. c. neglecta:
  • G. c. cyanoleuca:
  • Mainland Australia, except north and the most arid areas

Habitat

Widespread but is absent from deep forest; common in urban areas. Needs mud and water for nest building.
Occurs from the lowlands up to 1000m, occasionally higher.

Behaviour

Usually seen singly or in pairs. Young birds can form bigger groups.

Diet

Feeds mainly on invertebrates (like spiders, worms, insects and crustaceans), takes also small frogs and sometimes some seeds. Mainly foraging on the ground, walking or wading in muddy margins.

Breeding

Breeding season related to rainfall and availability of mud for nest construction. A monogamous species, pairs stay together several years. The nest is an open cup made of plant material plastered with mud and lined with grass, feathers and fur. It's placed on a flat branch, usually near water. Lays 1 - 6 eggs. Pallid Cuckoo, Australian Koel and Channel-billed Cuckoo are reported to parasitize this species.

Movements

Mainly a resident species, partly migratory in some parts of its range.

Gallery

Click on photo for larger image

References

  1. Clements, J. F., T. S. Schulenberg, M. J. Iliff, S. M. Billerman, T. A. Fredericks, B. L. Sullivan, and C. L. Wood. 2019. The eBird/Clements Checklist of Birds of the World: v2019. Downloaded from http://www.birds.cornell.edu/clementschecklist/download/
  2. Del Hoyo, J, A Elliott, and D Christie, eds. 2009. Handbook of the Birds of the World. Volume 14: Bush-shrikes to Old World Sparrows. Barcelona: Lynx Edicions. ISBN 978-8496553507
  3. Simpson, K and N Day. 1998. Field Guide to the Birds of Australia. London: Christopher Helm. ISBN 0-7136-4877-5

Recommended Citation

External Links

GSearch checked for 2020 platform.

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