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Magpie-larkAlternative names: "Peewee", "Mudlark", "Murray Magpie", "Little Magpie", "Peewit", "Pugwall" Aboriginal names: "beelarl", "iyebana", "koolootaroo", "barriindjiin" [gamilaraay, yuwaalaraay], "marronoo" Size: 26-30 cm Weight: 90 g (average) |
SUBSECTIONS:
Classification
Distribution
Sightings
Photos
Breeding
Nest
Eggs
Behaviour
Food
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Taxonomy, classification |
See Magpie-lark
at Wikipedia 
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Range, habitat, finding this species |
(for details refer to a field guide) |
Click here to display information on habitat,
range and finding this species
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Sightings |
Magpie-larks (more commonly known as "Peewees") can be seen almost everywhere in Australia, including the area of Narrabri, NSW. In inland NSW race "cyanoleuca" is found.
Click here to display more sighting
information
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Photos |
Race "cyanoleuca"
Frontal view of a male Magpie-lark; photo courtesy of R. Druce
Near-lateral view of a male Magpie-lark going for a drink in hot weather
[20 km south of Narrabri, NSW, 2006]
Lateral view of a male Magpie-lark
[Eulah Creek, NSW, March 2013]
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
[Eulah Creek, NSW, October 2008]
This photo shows a male Magpie-lark's underwing pattern
[20 km south of Narrabri, NSW, January 2006]
Female Magpie-lark on our lawn
[20 km south of Narrabri, NSW, 2006]
Dorsal view of a female Magpie-lark
[20 km south of Narrabri, NSW, 2006]
Lateral view of an immature Magpie-lark
[Eulah Creek, NSW, November 2010]
Frontal view of a fledgling Magpie-lark
[Eulah Creek, NSW, October 2007]
Near-lateral view of a fledgling Magpie-lark (photo courtesy
of C. Hayne)
Dorsal view of a fledgling Magpie-lark
[Eulah Creek, NSW, October 2007]
This young Magpie-lark was on its first day out of the nest,
squawking together with its siblings to be fed...
[Eulah Creek, NSW, September 2010]
... and here is dad Magpie-lark with food
[Eulah Creek, NSW, September 2010]
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Breeding information |
| Breeding season: Jul - Jan | Eggs: 3 - 5 | Incubation period: 18 days | Fledging age: 21 days |
Given the right conditions, Magpie-larks can breed any time of the year.
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Nest |
"bungobittah", "malunna" = Nest [Aboriginal] |
| Type: Bowl | Material: Mud | Height above ground: 2 - 10 m |
Close-up view of a Magpie-lark's nest
[Eulah Creek, NSW, September 2010]
This Magpie-lark nest is still under construction
[Near Narrabri, NSW, November 2007]
THe same Magpie-lark nest seen from the other side, now complete
[Near Narrabri, NSW, November 2007]
Here a female Magpie-lark sitting on its nest
[Eulah Creek, NSW, October 2008]
View from above into a Magpie-lark nest, showing its lining
[Moree, NSW, November 2011]
Magpie-lark nest with four chicks in it
[Eulah Creek, NSW, December 2007]
This nestling Magpie-lark fell out of the nest during the commotion
caused by a Channel-billed
Cuckoo
[Eulah Creek, NSW, October 2012]
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Eggs |
"boyanga", "booyanga", "derinya", "dirandil", "koomura", "nooluk" "pateena" = Egg; "dirundirri" = eggs [Aboriginal] |
| Size: 29 x 20 mm | Colour: Pinkish-whiteish, with dark red-brown speckles | Shape: Tapered oval |
View from above into a Magpie-lark nest with 4 eggs in it
View from above into a Magpie-lark nest with 3 eggs in it
(photo courtesy of C. Hayne)
Fragments of a Magpie-lark egg that fell to the ground with
the nest it was in during a violent storm
Fragment of a Magpie-lark egg shell that had been disposed of by
the birds
[Eulah Creek, NSW, October 2012]
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Behaviour |
| Social behaviour: Territorial | Mobility: Sedentary/dispersive | Elementary unit: Solitary/pair |
At our former place 20 km south of Narrabri Magpie-larks 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, who will host on them if given a chance.
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Food, Diet |
Magpie-larks are insect hunters. Contrary to the technique of many other birds (e.g., flycatchers), they catch their prey by snapping at insects they disturb when strutting around on the ground.
