Close view of a young magpie Gymnorhina tibicen in its nest. Magpies are common throughout Australia. Magpies begin nesting from July to September. It is during this period when there are eggs or young birds in the nest that the parent birds become highly defensive and will swoop upon anybody deemed to be encroaching on their 'territory'.

Magpies mostly eat insects, such as beetles and cicadas that live in the soil and use their strong beak to probe and extract them. Their carolling song makes the birds a favourite with many people.

Magpies are protected birds in South Australia and should not be harmed.