Magpie Chorus Print

Art print of an original painting 'Magpie Chorus' by Helen Ansell.

“Magpies have been voted to be one of Australia’s favourite birds, and their song is one of the most intricate and beautiful – scientists are still trying to discover the different meanings their songs convey. I couldn’t resist painting these guys. I hope you can almost hear their tune!” - Helen Ansell

The Australian magpie (Gymnorhina tibicen) is one of this country’s most accomplished songbirds, with an array of complex vocalisations. It also has distinctive black and white plumage, and was named because of this similarity with the European magpie; however, they are not related.

A subspecies, the western magpie (G. tibicen dorsalis), is found in the fertile south west corner of Western Australia and is pictured here with acorn banksia (Banksia prionotes), which also occurs in that region.