The black head is separated from the black back by a wide white collar. 
Australian Magpie Males and Females are similar, with glossy black and white colourings
The bold white patch on the nape is common to all types of Magpies.

Average length of a mature Magpie is 38 to 44cm. 
Magpies have strong hooked beaks.
Young Magpies are duller and their feathers are more "downy"
Found right across Australia they require open ground to feed, some trees to roost in, 
and this describes a lot of Australias agriculture and bush landscapes. 
Australian Magpies have adapted well to the increase of mans Urban cities and they 
can be found in surban parks and gardens. 

The Magpie feeds mainly on worms, ground-dwelling insects such as insects and spiders, 
ground dwelling invertebrates(lizards). 

Magpies live in groups with a strict heirarchy setup of a dominate male 2 to 3 females 
and any number of young up to about 20 individuals.
Magpies occupy permanent territories used for feeding, roosting and nesting. 

During breeding season Magpies (especially males) fiercly defend their nest and 
territories by basically dive bombing any percieved threat whether in the air or on the 
ground, including humans.

Breeding occurs from July to Feburary (depending on local climate). 
The female makes the nest on her own consisting of a rough basket of sticks in a tree. 
They often line it with softer material.
The female lays 3 to 5 eggs (blue or green blotched & streaked with brown), which hatch 
in 20 days
Females incubate and rear their young unaided to the fledging stage (24 days approx) 
During this time the nest is defended by the Male, and if the threat is percieved to 
be very serious the female will leave the nest to help deter the "threat" 
Once the young have left the nest all members of the group help in educating, protecting, 
and caring for them.