OBSERVATIONS ON THE PRE-DAWN SINGING OF THE AUSTRALIAN MAGPIE Gymnorhina tibicen tibicen
| Posted: |
12/04/2021 |
| Author(s): |
John Holt |
This study investigated the pre-dawn song of four male Australian Magpies Gymnorhina tibicen tibicen resident in a north
Brisbane suburb; one bird over three breeding seasons (2001-2003), the other three birds for one breeding season (2003). Predawn
singing by a solitary male magpie commenced in late July with a peak of both early song start and song duration in
September, after which both declined until cessation in October/November. This pre-dawn song started and almost always
ended before dawn and was sung continuously every morning for varying periods of time but never from the nest tree. It began
as a low volume song during the first weeks of the breeding season while the eggs were being laid and increased in volume
within a few weeks to a clear and widely audible song in early to mid-August while the eggs and/or chicks were in the nest. This
song continued until late October-early November when it became discontinuous and was interspersed with challenging
territorial calls.
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