Magpie-lark

26-30 cm. Now regarded as a giant monarch flycatcher, but because often seen skirmishing with Australian Magpie, and linked by association of names, they are grouped together here. Male: bill white; eye yellowish white; legs black; head/breast-patch black; prominent white eyebrow and broad white panel down side of neck below eye. Female: forehead/throat white; broad black band from crown down through eye to black breastband. Immature: bill and eye dark; pattern differs - brownish black of forehead/crown/nape extends in band down through eye to black breastband, leaving white throat. Pairs, family parties, loose autumn-winter flocks. Noisy, demonstrative, particularly before roosting. Males may hold territories throughout year, frequently skirmishing with neighbouring pairs, magpies, raptors. Forages on ground, walks with back-and-forward head movement; wades. In flight, rounded wings make lapping strokes; flutters, lifts, dodges lightly. Calls on wing while flying with exaggerated, catchy wingbeats. Note white tail with broad subterminal black band pointing up centre. Birds in n. Aust. smaller.