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Magie-Lark


Magie-Lark
Photo Information
Copyright: Colin McQueen (McQueenca) Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 131 W: 11 N: 226] (1387)
Genre: Animals
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2013-01-30
Categories: Birds
Camera: Canon 7D, Canon EF 300 1:2.8 L IS II USM
Exposure: f/6.3, 1/1000 seconds
More Photo Info: [view]
Photo Version: Original Version, Workshop
Date Submitted: 2013-02-10 15:22
Viewed: 2563
Points: 34
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
Note
This photo was taken in sunny conditions. This Magpie and its mate were busy building a nest above my position I have added a photo of this activity in WS. This photo has been cropped and lightened a bit.

Magpie-lark
Grallina cyanoleuca
Monarchidae

Magpie-larks are often seen in parks, gardens and streetscapes in built-up areas, but it is equally common in farmland and open areas of the bush. Its familiar call, sometimes rendered as peewee or peewit, has led to those renditions being used as colloquial names for the species, though in South Australia it is known as the ‘Murray Magpie’. It is often confiding in urban areas, but less so elsewhere. Magpie-larks build robust nests made from mud and rootlets, which male birds sometimes defend surprisingly vigorously.

Identification
Description

The Magpie-lark is distinctively marked in black and white. The thin whitish bill and pale iris separate it from other similarly coloured species. The adult male Magpie-lark has a white eyebrow and black face, while the female has an all-white face with no white eyebrow. Young birds have a black forehead, a white eyebrow and a white throat. The Magpie-lark is often referred to as a Peewee or Pee Wee, after the sound of its distinctive calls.

Similar Species

The name Magpie-lark is quite misleading, as the species has no link with either the magpies or the larks. However, the Magpie-lark is sometimes confused with the Australian Magpie, Gymnorhina tibicen. While both species are black and white, the Magpie-lark is noticeably smaller than the Australian Magpie.

Location
Distribution

Magpie-larks are confined to Australasia, being found throughout Australia (although only a rare vagrant to Tasmania), southern New Guinea and Timor.

Habitat

Magpie-larks are found in almost any habitat except rainforests and the driest deserts and are familiar urban birds.

Behaviour
Feeding

The Magpie-lark is mostly ground-dwelling, and is usually seen slowly searching on the ground for a variety of insects and their larvae, as well as earthworms and freshwater invertebrates.

Breeding

Magpie-larks build an unusual mud nest. During the breeding season both the male and female gather wet mud and construct a bowl-shaped nest on a horizontal branch, or similar site, often up to 20 m above the ground. The bowl is lined with feathers and grasses. The male and female birds often sit side by side and call alternately, each raising and lowering their wings as they do so. Magpie-larks aggressively defend their nest and territory, which may occupy up to 10 ha. Both parents share the incubation duties and care for the young. If conditions are favourable, more than one brood may be reared in a year.

Source: birdlife.org.au
CeltickRanger, Chiza, Argus, anel, KOMSIS, ramthakur, maaciejka has marked this note useful
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Critiques [Translate]

Hello Colin

Excellent close-up photo of the Magie-Lark
in its beautiful pose, fine POV and framing,
excellent focus, sharpness, details, TFS

Asbed

  • Great 
  • Chiza Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 133 W: 0 N: 474] (5351)
  • [2013-02-10 19:28]

Hola Colin, hermosa foto y que bella especie, me gusta la composición, color,enfoque y el manejo de la luz que se nota no fue facil...saludos.

  • Great 
  • PeakXV Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 121 W: 0 N: 544] (3135)
  • [2013-02-10 20:54]

Hello Colin,

A very crisp study of this Murray Magpie. A choice profile pov and the concerned focus of this bird is nicely captured in this well illuminated composition of the attractive bird. A pleasure to view.

Regards,

Derek

Hello Colin
Interesting bird and beautiful photo with good composition, wonderful lighting and good sharpness.
Regards,
Christodoulos

  • Great 
  • nagraj Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1618 W: 106 N: 3208] (15166)
  • [2013-02-10 22:32]

Hi,
Good portrait of this lovely bird with cute pose. tfs.
nagraj.v

simple and beautiful, I think you can sharpen a little and increase contrast just a little, TFS Ori

  • Great 
  • Argus Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 5038 W: 260 N: 15594] (50626)
  • [2013-02-10 22:45]

Hello Colin,
A great shot of the magpie Lark. I like the pose on the rock taken from a great POV with fine exposure and sharpness. The WS is great too
Thanks for sharing this and an informative note.
Have a good week,
Ivan

你好
這鳥照的很有個性 也很清晰
像是要突擊的前湊
構圖有一種西部荒野的味道
謝謝分享
STONE

  • Great 
  • anel Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 3053 W: 3 N: 8715] (40574)
  • [2013-02-11 1:02]

Hello Colin,
This magpie has a very interesting eye and you caught the bird in a good pose on this small rock. Fine blurred background too. Sharpness could be slightly improved, but not an easy task without helping with PP work.
Kind regards
Anne

Hello Colin,
Excellent captured of this beautiful species.Nice colour combination,good sharpness and well BG.
Thanks for sharing,
Kind regards,
Srikumar

  • Great 
  • KOMSIS Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 820 W: 0 N: 2419] (10674)
  • [2013-02-11 2:32]

Hi Colin,
A lovely capture of this beautiful of the Magpie Lark ..
A very nice shot of this bird, good colours and details from a nice pov.
Best wishes,
Seyfi

  • Great 
  • PeterZ Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 5137 W: 166 N: 13121] (49139)
  • [2013-02-11 5:32]

Hello Colin,
Very nice photo of this Magpie Lark. excellent sharpness, details and a very zttractive pose. Add a bit more contrast (or autocontrast) and see what happens.
Regards,
Peter

Hello Colin,
Beautiful capture with excellent sharpness, provably the perfect exposure and you've got the fine details of BW plumage.
TFS and my regards,
Joy

Superb shot, Colin.
The POV couldn't be better. The pose of the bird is most elegant, to say the least.
Well done and TFS!
Ram

hello Colin'
great shot with good details and great sharpness
i like this naturel colours
thanks greeting lou

Hi Colin,
very nice bird. Excellent composition. Perfect point of view.
Thanks for sharing
Maciek

  • Great 
  • lousat Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 6595 W: 89 N: 15659] (65489)
  • [2013-02-11 14:47]

Hi Colin,beautiful small friend and very nice capture in an elegant pose,excellent exposure and good details,maybe a bit undersaturated.Have a nice day and thanks,Luciano

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