Bird Guide

Australian Magpie vs Grey Butcherbird

Australian Magpie (Gymnorhina tibicen)

Australian Magpie

Gymnorhina tibicen

Medium285 gWoodland

The adult magpie ranges from 37 to 43 cm (14.5 to 17 in) in length with a 65–85 cm (25.5–33.5 in) wingspan, and weighing 220–350 g (7.8–12.3 oz). Its robust wedge-shaped bill is bluish-white bordered with black, with a small hook at the tip. The black legs are long and strong. The plumage is pure glossy black and white; both sexes of all subspecies have black heads, wings and underparts with white shoulders. The tail has a black terminal band. The nape is white in the male and light greyish-white in the female.

ID text from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0

Recording: Richard Fuller · CC0
Photo: Martin Hannan-Jones · CC BY 4.0
Grey Butcherbird (Cracticus torquatus)

Grey Butcherbird

Cracticus torquatus

Medium83 gWoodland

The grey butcherbird is a small grey, black and white bird with a weight of 90 grams (3.2 ounces), a body length between 27 and 30 cm (11 and 12 in) and a wing span expanding 37–43 cm (15–17 in). The grey butcherbird is smaller than the Pied Butcherbird (Cracticus nigrogularis). The adult grey butcherbird has a black head, top and sides; and a white chin and throat through to the lower hindneck. The upperbody is mostly dark grey with streaks of narrow white bands that extends across the uppertail-coverts at the base of the tail. The uppertail is black with narrow white tips. Voice: All members of the territorial group contribute to the territorial song, a loud and rollicking song with both musical and harsh elements. The song can be sung by only one member, but more often it is sung in duet or as a group. Some duets are antiphonal where it is not obvious that two or more birds are singing. Most songs are sung with more than one phase and are sung antiphonally.

ID text from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0

Recording: James Ray · CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: Maria Duynisveld · CC BY 4.0

Where you might meet both

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Photos and recordings are credited to their authors under the licence shown. Full profiles: Australian Magpie and Grey Butcherbird.