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The Conversation
The Conversation
Vanesa De Pietri, Senior Research Fellow in Palaeontology, University of Canterbury

Magpies may not be a pesky Australian import – new research finds their ancestors thrived in NZ a long time ago

ARC Australia New Zealand Paul Scofield Diversity
Shutterstock/Russ Jenkins

For many New Zealanders, the Australian magpie is a familiar, if sometimes vexing, sight. Introduced from Australia in the 1860s, magpies are known for their territorial dive-bombing during nesting season, which has cemented their reputation as an unwelcome import.

But our new research reveals a fascinating twist in this narrative.

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