The warbling and carolling of the Australian magpie are familiar to many although few of us recognize that it ranks among the foremost songbirds of the world. Its impressive vocal abilities, its propensity to play and clown, and its willingness to interact with people, make the magpie one of our most well-known birds. This insightful book presents a comprehensive account of the behavior of one of Australia’s best-loved icons. It reveals the extraordinary capabilities of the magpie, including its complex social behavior, in a highly readable text. The author brings together much of what we know about the magpie’s biology and behavior, including her latest research on magpie vocalization as well as aspects of anatomy, physiology, development and health not published previously.