Piping Shrike

The state emblem of South Australia is an image of the Piping Shrike or White Backed Magpie.

The design, created by Robert Craig in 1901 and modified by Harry Gill in 1910, has been used as South Australia's state badge since being gazetted on 14 January 1904. The design originally included a pomegranate flower above the Shrike (in heraldry the pomegranate is the king of fruit and it was possibly meant to represent the bounty of fruit produced in South Australia), but this was removed at the request of either the state's governor, Lord Tennyson, or premier, Frederick Holder.

The Piping Shrike also appears on the state flag and coat of arms.

For further information see: Department of Premier and Cabinet Protocol Office - the insignia and emblems of SA - State Badge of South Australia