The larger bird in the background is an Australian magpie. We saw them often in New Zealand as well. In the morning, their sounds are very melodious and varied. The two smaller birds are magpie larks.
The Australian Magpie (Cracticus tibicen) is a medium-sized black and white passerine bird native to Australia and southern New Guinea. A member of the Artamidae, it is closely related to the butcherbirds. At one stage, the Australian Magpie was considered to be three separate species, although zones of hybridisation between forms reinforced the idea of a single species with several subspecies, nine of which are now recognised. The adult Australian Magpie is a fairly robust bird...
