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Story: Land birds – overview

White-backed magpies

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White-backed magpies

Most non-native birds were brought to New Zealand from Britain, to help recreate the environment familiar to the first British settlers. However, magpies were brought from Australia.

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Department of Conservation

Reference: 10023989

by Peter Reese

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How to cite this page

Kerry-Jayne Wilson, Land birds – overview – Habitats: introduced and native land birds, Te Ara – the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, https://teara.govt.nz/en/photograph/9916/white-backed-magpies (accessed 4 June 2026).

Story by Kerry-Jayne Wilson, published 1 March 2009.