Magpie-lark
Koolyabarak are well adapted to living around suburban areas and can befriend home gardeners
Suburbs Alexander Heights Alfred Cove Alkimos Anketell Applecross Ardross Armadale Ascot Ashby Ashendon Ashfield Attadale Atwell Aubin Grove Aveley Avon Valley National Park Bailup Bakers Hill Balcatta Baldivis Balga Ballajura Bambun Banjup Banksia Grove Baskerville Bassendean Bateman Bayswater Beaconsfield Beckenham Bedford Bedfordale Beechboro Beechina Beeliar Beldon Belhus Bellevue Belmont Bennett Springs Bentley Bertram Bibra Lake Bickley Bicton Bindoon Bindoon Training Area Boonanarring Booragoon Boya Brabham Breera Brentwood Brigadoon Brookdale Bull Creek Bullsbrook Burns Beach Burswood Butler Byford Calista Camillo Canning Mills Canning Vale Cannington Carabooda Carine Carlisle Carmel Carramar Casuarina Caversham Champion Lakes Chidlow Chittering Churchlands City Beach Claremont Clarkson Cloverdale Cockburn Central Como Connolly Coodanup Coogee Coolbellup Coolbinia Cooloongup Copley Cottesloe Craigie Crawley Cullacabardee Cullalla Currambine Daglish Dale Dalkeith Darch Darling Downs Darlington Dayton Dianella Doubleview Dudley Park Duncraig East Cannington East Fremantle East Perth East Rockingham East Victoria Park Eden Hill Edgewater Eglinton Ellenbrook Embleton Ferndale Flint Floreat Flynn Forrestdale Forrestfield Fremantle Gidgegannup Girrawheen Glen Forrest Glendalough Gnangara Golden Bay Gooseberry Hill Gorrie Gosnells Greenfields Greenmount Greenwood Guildford Gwelup Hacketts Gully Hamersley Hamilton Hill Hammond Park Harrisdale Haynes Hazelmere Heathridge Helena Valley Henderson Henley Brook Herdsman Herne Hill High Wycombe Highgate Hilbert Hillarys Hillman Hilton Hocking Hope Valley Hovea Huntingdale Iluka Inglewood Inkpen Innaloo Jandabup Jandakot Jane Brook Jarrahdale Jindalee Jolimont Joondalup Joondanna Julimar Kalamunda Kallaroo Karawara Kardinya Karnup Karragullen Karrakatta Karrakup Karrinyup Kelmscott Kensington Kenwick Keralup Kewdale Kiara Kings Park Kingsley Kinross Koondoola Koongamia Kwinana Beach Kwinana Town Centre Lake Coogee Lakelands Landsdale Langford Lathlain Leda Leederville Leeming Lennard Brook Lesley Lesmurdie Lexia Lockridge Lower Chittering Lynwood Maddington Madeley Madora Bay Mahogany Creek Maida Vale Malaga Malmalling Mandogalup Mandurah Manning Marangaroo Mariginiup Marmion Martin Maylands Meadow Springs Medina Melaleuca Melville Menora Merriwa Middle Swan Midland Midvale Millendon Mindarie Mindarra Mirrabooka Mogumber Mooliabeenee Moondah Moondyne Morangup Morley Mosman Park Mount Claremont Mount Cooke Mount Hawthorn Mount Helena Mount Lawley Mount Nasura Mount Observation Mount Pleasant Mount Richon Muchea Mullaloo Mundaring Munster Murdoch Myaree Naval Base Nedlands Neerabup Nollamara Noranda North Bannister North Beach North Coogee North Fremantle North Lake North Perth Northbridge Nowergup O’Connor Oakford Ocean Reef Orange Grove Orelia Osborne Park Padbury Palmyra Parkerville Parklands Parkwood Parmelia Paulls Valley Pearsall Peppermint Grove Peron Perth Perth Airport Piara Waters Pickering Brook Piesse Brook Pinjar Port Kennedy Postans Queens Park Quinns Rocks Red Hill Redcliffe Reservoir Ridgewood Riverton Rivervale Rockingham Roleystone Rossmoyne Safety Bay Salter Point Samson San Remo Sawyers Valley Scarborough Secret Harbour Seville Grove Shelley Shenton Park Shoalwater Silver Sands Sinagra Singleton Sorrento South Fremantle South Guildford South Lake South Perth Southern River Spearwood St James Stirling Stoneville Stratton Subiaco Success Swan View Swanbourne Tamala Park Tapping The Lakes The Spectacles The Vines Thornlie Treeby Trigg Tuart Hill Two Rocks Upper Swan Victoria Park Viveash Waikiki Walliston Walyunga National Park Wandi Wangara Wannamal Wanneroo Warnbro Warwick Waterford Watermans Bay Wattle Grove Wattleup Wellard Welshpool Wembley Wembley Downs West Leederville West Perth West Swan Westminster White Gum Valley Whiteman Willagee Willetton Wilson Winthrop Woodbridge Woodlands Woodvale Wooroloo Woottating Wundowie Wungong Yanchep Yangebup Yarawindah Yeal Yokine Bushland
Bushland Birds
Dampland
Frog Ponds
Heathland
Wetland
Noongar Names: Koolyabarak
Scientific Name: Grallina cyanoleuca
Conservation Status: Least concern
Threats: Habitat loss and cat predation
Will they visit?: Magpie-larks frequently visit home gardens
Natural Distribution: Common and widespread throughout the South West and Perth region
‘Magpie-lark (C)Stephen Garth 2016 birdlifephotography.org.au’
‘Magpie-lark (C)Georgina Steytler 2014 birdlifephotography.org.au’
Magpie-lark – (C) Georgina Steytler
‘Magpie-lark (C)Bruce McNaughton 2017 birdlifephotography.org.au’
‘Magpie-lark (C)Anthea Fleming 2020 birdlifephotography.org.au’
‘Magpie-lark (C)Simon Pelling 2019 birdlifephotography.org.au’
Habitat at a Glance
See Habitat Guide for more detail
Shelter: Nests constructed in large trees
Diet: Insects, fruits, seeds, and small animals
Water: Bird baths, native frog ponds
ReWild Benefit: Pest control
Habitat Guide - Shelter
Natural Shelter
Magpie-larks build nests out of mud on large branches and in the forks of tall trees. They are known to build their nests in man-made structures as well. Damplands and boggy areas around the garden can provide nesting material for Magpie-larks. Keep and maintain large trees around the home as they provide suitable habitat for nesting birds.
Novel Shelter
Not required.
Habitat Guide - Food and Water
Providing natural sources of food
Home gardens provide plentiful foraging habitat for magpie-larks. They forage for food on the ground and search for prey in the undergrowth of shrubs, tall grasses, and amongst leaflitter and mulch. They have adapted well to foraging for insects and invertebrates living under lawn.
Magpie-larks have a cheeky habitat of accepting food offered by well-intentioned residents. Offering backyard wildlife food is not recommended. If you must, research the best methods of providing magpie-larks food without risking their health. Remember, mince and dog food can make them sick!
Providing sources of water
Magpie-larks prefer to live close to water and visit bird baths to drink and bathe. Frog ponds and damplands are popular amongst magpie-larks in search of food, water, and nesting materials.
ReWild Benefits
Magpie-larks help to control pest species within the ecosystem. Visit BirdLife Australia to learn more about our native birds. If you have seen one in your neighbourhood or around the home you can record your sighting on Birdata and help scientists monitor their population.
