Grallinidae

Medium sized black and white bird, frequently on the ground feeding.

Diurnal, Nest is made of grass, bark fragments plasteriaed with mud and lined with fur or feathers, situated on a horizontal bough low to the ground. Established pairs are permanently territorial.They are known to migrate locally to breeding areas in the wet season. Dry season flocks can be quite large.

Woodland Forest Wetlands, Open areas usually near water; inland waters and fringing forests, open woodland; floodplains. Magpie-larks gather in large dry season (non-breeding) flocks which disperse and migrate to breeding areas in the wet.

Magpie Larks often breed in association with Willie Wagtails, using the same tree. Both types of birds will fiercely defend the nest trees against predatory birds, goanas, snakes, etc.

July August September October November December January, 3 to 6; pure white-pinkish. eggs incubated for 17-18 days by both sexes. Young fly in 18-23 days. Several broods raised in succession.

Kakadu National Park

Carnivore, Insects; pond-snails and small anthropods.