Australian Magpie

Australian Magpie, Gymnorhina tibicen

In honor of Pi Day, I thought it'd be great to have a related post if only because I'm a bit of a nerd. I figured a good post could be about a bird whose name includes the word pie or possibly a post about some sort of blackbird, like in the old nursery rhyme. As both were already covered earlier, I opted for yet another bird with pie in the name, the Australian Magpie. A large bird with an unusual flute-like song, the magpie can be found throughout most of Australia and are a very common sight in urban areas. As they are very rarely seen alone, have little fear of humans, and can be found in most neighborhoods, these birds can be best compared to the Common Grackle found in great portions of the United States and Canada. The big white beaks with black tips of the Australian Magpie are the best way to distinguish it from the common coloration of black and white birds in Australia. As with many other birds, they can become very aggressive and territorial during breeding season. Since they can thrive in urban areas, this may result in dive bombing of people and pets.