Australian Magpie (Gymnorhina tibicen tibicen)

These large conspicuous birds were quite common and often allowed close approach. I took this photo behind a grocery store in town. Not really a magpie or crow, this is actually a type of butcherbird (Cracticidae). This species exhibits much geographic variation, with 8 races in Australia divided into two main groups. Birds in the west are white on the back, while birds in the east have black backs. They form a hybrid zone Where they meet.