The magpie-lark, also known as wee magpie, peewee, peewit, mudlark or Murray magpie, is a passerine bird native to Australia, Timor, and southern New Guinea. The male and female both have black and white plumage, though with different patterns. John Latham described the species in 1801. Long thought to be a member of the mudnest builder family Corcoracidae, it has been reclassified in the family Monarchidae. Two subspecies are recognized.
Region
Australasia
Typical Environment
Widespread across mainland Australia, southern New Guinea, and Timor. It frequents open habitats including urban parks, lawns, sports fields, farmlands, and lightly wooded areas. The species is also common along water edges, wetlands, and river corridors where mud for nest building is available. It avoids dense forests but readily occupies suburban and agricultural mosaics. Human-altered landscapes with reliable water have aided its spread and local abundance.
Altitude Range
Sea level to 1500 m
Climate Zone
Subtropical
Ease of Keeping
Beginner friendly: 2/5
Magpie-larks are famous for their loud antiphonal duets, where two birds alternate notes so precisely they sound like one bird. They build sturdy bowl-shaped mud nests, often reusing and repairing them each season. The species has expanded with human-made water sources and thrives in towns, parks, and farms. Two subspecies are recognized across its range.
Male magpie-lark – Durack Lakes, Palmerston, Northern Territory, Australia
Female in Melbourne. The female has a white throat and the male has a black throat.
A male magpie-lark with freshly captured prey.
A warning sign in the Adelaide CBD
Temperament
territorial and alert
Flight Pattern
short rapid wingbeats, low direct flight
Social Behavior
Pairs defend territories vigorously, often year-round, and perform coordinated duets at boundaries. They build mud-bowl nests on branches, ledges, or human structures, sometimes reusing the same site. Cooperative breeding occurs locally, with helpers assisting the dominant pair.
Migratory Pattern
Resident
Song Description
Clear, ringing pee-wee or pee-wit notes delivered in rapid antiphonal duets that can sound like a single bird. Calls carry well over open ground and are used for territory advertisement and pair-bond maintenance.
Plumage
Bold black-and-white contrast with glossy black upperparts and white underparts; crisp, clean patterning. Sexes differ subtly in facial patterning and throat color. White wing patches show clearly in flight.
Diet
Primarily small ground-dwelling invertebrates such as beetles, ants, spiders, caterpillars, and flies. They also take aquatic larvae and small crustaceans along muddy margins. Occasional seeds or small vertebrates may be taken but form a minor part of the diet. Foraging is mostly by walking and pecking on open ground.
Preferred Environment
Open lawns, pastures, and the edges of wetlands, puddles, and waterways where prey is exposed. They often feed in human-dominated spaces like parks, golf courses, and roadsides.
