Australian Magpie
Gymnorhina tibicen
- KingdomAnimalia (Animals)
- PhylumChordata (Cordats)
- ClassAves (Aus)
- OrderPasseriformes
- FamilyCracticidae
- GenusGymnorhina (Australian Magpies)
- SpeciesGymnorhina tibicen (Australian Magpie)
The Australian magpie (Gymnorhina tibicen) is a black and white passerine bird native to Australia and southern New Guinea, and introduced to New Zealand, and the Fijian island of Taveuni. 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 closely related to the Eurasian magpie (Pica pica) or any other birds known as magpies, which are corvids. The adult Australian magpie is a fairly robust bird ranging from 37 to 43 cm (14.5 to 17 in) in length, with 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, but can be distinguished by differences in back markings. Wikipedia →
30–40% of wildlife watchers report a Australian Magpie sighting in Tongariro National Park, based on 119 days of visitor records from GBIF citizen-science data.
Closest Relatives at Tongariro National Park
New Zealand Fantail
Rhipidura fuliginosa
Chaffinch
Fringilla coelebs
Silvereye
Zosterops lateralis
Tūī
Prosthemadera novaeseelandiae
Grey Warbler
Gerygone igata
Eurasian Blackbird
Turdus merula
Welcome Swallow
Hirundo neoxena
New Zealand Bellbird
Anthornis melanura
Popokatea
Mohoua albicilla
Miromiro
Petroica macrocephala
Song Thrush
Turdus philomelos
European Starling
Sturnus vulgaris
📅 Monthly Probability
☀️ When They're Spotted
Most active during daytime hours (6am–6pm) · across all parks (global)
Global Distribution
Where this species is recorded worldwide. Restricted to human observations from 2019 onwards — the same kind of record and the same period the probabilities on this page are built from, so collar-tracking studies, camera-trap arrays and museum specimens are excluded. Around Santa Rosa that removes 5,924 GPS fixes from a handful of tagged jaguars.
where this species is recorded (GBIF density — it tracks where observers go, not how likely a sighting is) · parks where it occurs — tap a pin for the sighting probability there
Parks Where Found
Quick answers
What are the chances of seeing a Australian Magpie in Tongariro National Park?
About 34% of wildlife watchers report a Australian Magpie sighting in Tongariro National Park, based on 119 days of visitor records from GBIF citizen-science data.
When is the best time to see Australian Magpie in Tongariro National Park?
June has the highest sighting rate for Australian Magpie in Tongariro National Park in our monthly data.