Call comparison

Australian Magpie vs Grey Butcherbird call

The Australian Magpie and the Grey Butcherbird both belong to the butcherbird family, so their calls can sound alike. Play the two recordings one after the other and listen for the differences in the descriptions below.

In Birds of New South Wales, the Australian Magpie comes in Level 1 and the Grey Butcherbird in Level 3.

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Australian Magpie Gymnorhina tibicen

Fluty, warbling phrases; often daytime chorus.

A field recording of the Australian Magpie by Donald Davesne, shared on iNaturalist.

More about the Australian Magpie call

Grey Butcherbird Cracticus torquatus

Rich, piping fluty phrases delivered from a high perch.

A field recording of the Grey Butcherbird by Donald Davesne, shared on iNaturalist.

More about the Grey Butcherbird call

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Learn both calls in SongLark

Install SongLark, sign in, and choose Birds of New South Wales as your course to learn the Australian Magpie and the Grey Butcherbird by ear.

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