Magpie-lark (also known as Mudlark, Peewee, or Murray Magpie)

This feather belongs to the Magpie-lark, a bold black-and-white monarch flycatcher. Adult males have a black throat and a white eyebrow, while females have a white throat and no eyebrow. They are famous for their mechanical, piping 'pee-o-wit' duet and their distinctive walking gait.

Bicolor pattern: the distal (upper) half is predominantly black while the proximal (lower) base is white. There is a distinct white tip at the very apex. The rachis is dark where the barbs are black and transitions to cream/white at the base.

Pennaceous; the barbs are tightly interlocked to form a stiff, wind-resistant vane. Some plumulaceous (downy) structure is visible at the very base near the calamus.

Smooth and glossy on the dorsal surface, with a matte finish underneath. The vane feels stiff and slightly waxy, providing a degree of water resistance.

Clean 'dipped' look with a white base and black mid-section; white terminal tip; rigid rectrix structure; typical Monarchidae glossy black melanin saturation.

Extremely versatile; found in urban parks, gardens, wetlands, grasslands, and lightly timbered forests. Always found near a permanent water source for mud-nest building.

Resident across almost the entire Australian mainland, as well as southern New Guinea and Lord Howe Island. They are generally sedentary but may move following rainfall.

Insectivorous predator that helps control pest populations in lawns and pastures. They are highly territorial and provide early warnings for other birds when predators are near.

Australian Magpie (Gymnorhina tibicen) feathers are much larger/stiffer; Pied Currawong feathers lack the white base; Willie Wagtail feathers are smaller and mostly black.

Magpie-larks are one of the few bird species known to perform perfectly synchronized duets to defend their territory. They build deep, bowl-shaped nests made entirely of mud and reinforced with grass.

Good condition. There is slight fraying at the tip and some separation of the barbs on the leading edge, suggesting it may be a naturally molted feather (post-breeding season).