Piping Shrike

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" is not 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 is no metallic or varied tint on the black feathers as on the European bird. In South Australia it is 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 had one that ranged the fields to a great distance round the house, but always returned to sleep in it."

External links and references

* [http://www.premcab.sa.gov.au/emblems/shrike1.htm State badge of South Australia]
* [http://www.premcab.sa.gov.au/pdf/circulars/Shrike1.pdf Government of South Australia: Use of the Piping Shrike (pdf)]
* [http://etext.library.adelaide.edu.au/s/sturt/charles/s93n/part19.html Narrative of an expedition into Central Australia by Charles Sturt: Birds]