Call comparison

Australian Magpie vs Pied Butcherbird call

The Australian Magpie and the Pied 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 Pied Butcherbird in Level 5.

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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

Pied Butcherbird Cracticus nigrogularis

Gloriously clear, flute-like piping phrases.

A field recording of the Pied Butcherbird by jace_, shared on iNaturalist.

More about the Pied 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 Pied Butcherbird by ear.

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