Reproduction

How does the magpie lark produce its young?

Breeding takes place from August to February.

Pairs of magpie larks will typically form for life and breed together each season.

Their nest is created on a tree branch. They will use mud as plaster to form the nest which is cup-shaped. It is then lined with feathers and grasses. Both the male and female will work together to create the nest.

During the breeding season a male and female will sit side-by-side and call to one another and raise their wings.

These birds are highly aggressive in defense of their breeding territory.

In to the nest they will deposit between 3 and 5 eggs. The eggs are colored white or pink with some brown markings to them. These are incubated for 17-18 days.

Fledging takes place at between 18 and 23 days old.

Sexual maturity is reached at 1 year old.

One brood per year is typical but where conditions are favorable they are able to raise a second.

Behavior

What does the magpie lark do with its day?

These birds create a shrieking call which is made up of 5 notes. It may sound like 'pee-o-wit' or 'pee-wee.''

They also produce a duet with their partner. Each will produce a all roughly a half-second apart making it difficult to tell if one or two birds are singing.

Magpie larks are clumsy when taking flight. They will use their long legs to leap wildly in to the air and begin to flap wildly so they can take off.

They are mostly seen walking along on the ground. Here they can find most of the foods they eat.

Credit: Wayne Butterworth, CC BY 3.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0>, via Wikimedia Commons

Predators and Threats

What is impacting the survival of the magpie lark?

This species is considered common and is thought to be increasing across its range. The habitat degradation which is affecting other species in their range actually creates more suitable habitat for the magpie lark.

Humans also provide water needed for nest building in areas where they could previously have not survived.

Quick facts

Despite being named after the magpies and larks which they were familiar with by the European settler these animals are not magpies and are instead more closely related to the drongos. They are part of a group known as the monarchs.

They may also be known as the peewee as a result of their call. Other alternative names include the mudlark, Murray magpie or little magpie.