Magpie-lark
Grallina cyanoleuca
Magpie-lark (Grallina cyanoleuca) — Songbirds & Perching Birds of Australia & Oceania.
Found across 10 guides in our atlas — open any for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.
The Magpie-lark (Grallina cyanoleuca) is a member of the Monarchidae family found in Australia & Oceania. Adults weigh 82.6 g. The IUCN Red List lists it as Least Concern.
Conservation status
IUCN Red List (opens in a new tab)Widespread and abundant — not currently at risk.
Where it fits
- Class Aves
- Order Passeriformes
- Family Monarchidae Monarchs
- Genus Grallina
- Species cyanoleuca
Where it lives
Far southern Trans-Fly (south-central New Guinea) and Australia (except Tasmania)
Quick facts
- Weight
- 82.6 g
- Diet
- Aquatic hunters
- Family
- Monarchidae
- Order
- Passeriformes
- Habitat
- Grassland & open country
How to identify
Similar birds
Critically Endangered
Endangered
Near Threatened
Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Magpie-lark hunts aquatic prey such as fish and aquatic invertebrates.
Behaviour
A bird of open grassland, it forages mainly on the ground.
Migration
The Magpie-lark is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
The Magpie-lark (Grallina cyanoleuca) is a member of the Monarchidae family, within the order Passeriformes. It is found across Australia & Oceania. Its distribution covers AU far s Trans-Fly (sc New Guinea) and Australia (except Tasmania).
It is a medium-sized bird. Adults weighs around 82.6 g, with a wing length of about 17.2 cm and a tail of around 11.6 cm.
The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern. That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.
The species has a mapped global range of roughly 6.7 million km².
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Magpie-lark?
The Magpie-lark is a medium-sized bird that weighs around 82.6 g.
Where does the Magpie-lark live?
The Magpie-lark is found across Australia & Oceania with a range covering AU far s Trans-Fly (sc New Guinea) and Australia (except Tasmania), where it favours open grassland, scrub and lightly vegetated country.
What family does the Magpie-lark belong to?
The Magpie-lark (Grallina cyanoleuca) belongs to the Monarchidae family, in the order Passeriformes.
What does the Magpie-lark eat?
The Magpie-lark hunts aquatic prey such as fish and aquatic invertebrates.
Does the Magpie-lark migrate?
The Magpie-lark is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
Is the Magpie-lark endangered?
The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.
What sound does the Magpie-lark make?
1 real field recording of the Magpie-lark — including its song — can be played in the Songs & calls section on this page, credited to the recordist who captured it.
How large is the Magpie-lark's range?
The Magpie-lark has a mapped global range of about 6.7 million km².
Conservation
Every bird benefits from bird-safe windows, native plants, and keeping cats indoors. Small changes at home add up to real protection.
Explore more birds
More in Monarchidae
Extinct
Least Concern
Least Concern
Least Concern
More in Songbirds
Least Concern
Least Concern
Least Concern
Least Concern
Least Concern
Least Concern
Guides for this bird
Best Bird Feeders for Garden Songbirds
How to choose a bird feeder for garden songbirds — the feeder styles compared, the seed they prefer, where to hang it, and how to keep birds safe. A decision framework grounded in real data, with no mystery picks.