Everything about The Piping Shrike totally explained
The
Piping Shrike is the emblematic bird that appears on
South Australia's flag, State Badge and
Coat of Arms. The bird appears "displayed proper" with its wings outstreched and curved upwards. Although the image of the piping shrike is readily identified with South Australia, the bird in its own right has never been
formally adopted as a faunal or
bird emblem of the state.
Origins
The Piping Shrike first appeared on the State Badge which was proclaimed in 1904. The original drawing was by Robert Craig of the School of Arts. A later version drawn by Harry P.Gill who was the Principal of the School of Arts, was produced in 1910. The badge design, which set the bird against a backdrop of a yellow rising sun, was incorporated into the state flag (1904) and the Coat of Arms (1984).
Identification of the bird
Because the name
Piping Shrike isn't currently 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) government sources identify the bird as the
White-backed Magpie (
Gymnorhina tibicen telonocua formerly
Gymnorhina tibicen leuconota) . The connection of this bird to the name
Piping Shrike can be seen in this early observation by explorer
Charles Sturt in the 1840's:
» "
GYMNORHINA LEUCONOTA GOULD., The White-backed Crow Shrike. This bird is somewhat larger than, and very much resembles a magpie, but the proportion of white is greater, and there's no metallic or varied tint on the black feathers as on the European bird. In South Australia it's a winter bird, and his clear fine note was always the most heard on the coldest morning, as if that temperature best suited him. All the species of this genus are easily domesticated, and learn to pipe tunes. They are mischievous birds about a house, but are useful in a garden. I'd one that ranged the fields to a great distance round the house, but always returned to sleep in it."
External links and references
Further Information
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