Piping Shrike

Identification of the bird Because the name Piping Shrike is not used to identify any bird, there has been some confusion over what bird it represents. While some think it resembles the “Murray Magpie ” (Grallina cyanoleuca), the original reports specify that it is based on the Australian Magpie ,[1] and government sources specify the subspecies as the White-backed Magpie (Gymnorhina tibicen telonocua formerly Gymnorhina tibicen leuconota).[4] The connection of this bird to the name Piping Shrike can be seen in this early observation by explorer Charles Sturt in the 1840s: