The Australian magpie (Cracticus tibicen) is a medium-sized black and white passerine bird native toAustralia and southern New Guinea. A member of theArtamidae, it is closely related to the butcherbirds (but not to the European magpie, which is a corvid). At one stage, the Australian magpie was considered to be three separate species, although zones of hybridisation between forms reinforced the idea of a single species with several subspecies, nine of which are now recognised. The adult Australian magpie is a fairly robust bird ranging from 37 to 43 cm (14.5–17 in) in length, with distinctive black and whiteplumage, gold brown eyes and a solid wedge-shaped bluish-white and black bill.
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