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21

Magpie-lark

(Grallina cyanoleuca)
Alternative names: "Peewee", "Mudlark", "Murray Magpie", "Little Magpie", "Peewit", "Pugwall"
Aboriginal names: "iyebana", "koolootaroo", "barriindjiin" [gamilaraay, yuwaalaraay]

Sightings

Magpie-larks (more commonly known as "Peewees") can be seen almost everywhere in Australia, including the area of Narrabri, New South Wales. They populate rural areas and urban landscapes and are often found foraging by roadsides.

Also sighted on a trip to the east of the dividing range, in the area from Armidale to Dorrigo, New South Wales.

Seen by us also on a trip to outback NSW and South Australia in March 2008. Unlike Australian Magpies, Magpie-larks were found in remote locations only near the scattered human settlements, not out in remote bushland in the Flinders or Gammon Ranges or the nearby plains and saltpans.

Photos

Male Magpie-lark 20 km South of Narrabri, New South Wales (click on image for larger version)

Lateral view of a male bird (click on image for larger version)

Male Magpie-lark trying to impress the thought on a Channel-billed Cuckoo near its nest that it would be advantageous for it to move on (click on image for larger version)

Female Magpie-lark on our lawn (click on image for larger version)

Here another female Magpie-lark at our place, seen from behind (click on image for larger version)

Rear view of a fledgling Magpie-lark (click on image for larger version)

Frontal view of a fledgling Magpie-lark (click on image for larger version)

Nest

This nest that is still under construction is out in the open (click on image for larger version)

Here the same nest as above, seen from the other side, now complete (click on image for larger version)

Here a female Magpie-lark sitting on its nest (click on image for larger version)

Magpie-lark nest with four chicks in it (click on image for larger version)

Habits

At our former place 20 km south of Narrabri Magpie-larks ("Peewees") were winter guests. During the summer of 2005 they preferred to stay in the adjacent bush. In 2006 they occasionally came for a bath and a drink on very hot days. 20 km east of Narrabri they nest in the trees near the house...

Seen by us to defend their territory vigorously against the intrusion of Channel-billed Cuckoos.