Australian Magpie Cracticus tibicen (prev. Gymnorhina tibicen)

Australian Magpie
White-backed Magpie
The Australian Magpie is not directly related to the Eurasian Magpie or Corvids and has a more pleasant voice. It is related to Butcherbirds and the Currawong. There are several subspecies broadly split into the Black-backed and the White-backed.
Australian Magpie male
Australian Magpie male
Australian Magpie male
The male of the nominal Black-backed, above (Sydney, Australia), has a dark black upper back.
Australian Magpie female
Australian Magpie female
Australian Magpie female
The female of the nominal Black-backed subspecies, above, has a mottled grey upper back (she was with a Black-backed male in Sydney).
To complicate identification, White-backed males, Black-backed females and juveniles all have grey mottled backs. In addition, the several subspecies often interbreed.
Australian Magpie
Australian Magpies in NZ
Australian Magpies in New Zealand
The Australian Magpie has also been introduced into New Zealand where it is widespread (photos immediately above on North Island, New Zealand). Seems to be a Black-backed male but the female(?) has a different back to the Black-backed in Sydney above.
Australian Magpie White-backed sub-species female
Australian Magpie White-backed
Australian Magpie female nesting material
Female White-backed Magpie (hypoleuca subspecies) gathering nesting material. Seems similar to the female with the Black-backed immediately above.
Tasmanian White-backed Magpie male
Tasmanian White-backed Magpie male
Tasmanian White-backed Magpie male
The hypoleuca subspecies, male above, is native to Tasmania and sometimes called the Tasmanian White-backed Magpie.
Tasmanian White-backed Magpie male
Tasmanian White-backed Magpie female
Tasmanian White-backed Magpie
The Male White-backed, above left, has white from the nape to the end of grey area on his back. The female, centre, has a mottled grey back. Both have a black front.
Tasmanian White-backed Magpie
Tasmanian White-backed Magpie female
Tasmanian White-backed Magpie