The Australian magpie is a black and white passerine bird native to Australia and southern New Guinea, and introduced to New Zealand. 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. It is not closely related to the European magpie, which is a corvid.
Australian magpie
G. t. terraereginae Queensland
G. t. tyrannica southern Victorian coast
Male G. t. tyrannica showing prominent white back
Australian magpie in New Zealand
The Australian magpie is a medium-sized black and white passerine bird native to Australia and southern New Guinea. Three subspecies, including both black-backed and white-backed magpies, were introduced to New Zealand from the 1860s to control pests in pastures. They are now spread through much of the two main islands of the country.
Male (left) and female (right) magpies of Tasmania
Magpies harass or attack swamp harriers (pictured) far more than they do to any other bird species in New Zealand.