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mud lark


noun a common black and white bird, Grallina cyanoleuca, with a loud piping voice, pairs often sing in antiphonic duet; ranges across the entire mainland, absent from Tasmania. Compare magpie lark, Murray magpie, peewee.
Contributor's comments: Peewees are called mudlarks in WA - I'm not sure if they're the same thing as Murray Magpies though.

Contributor's comments: [Adelaide informant] Also known as the "mud lark" due to the type of nest, I think.

Contributor's comments: [Perth informant] The same bird as those in the Eastern States call "Pee Wee" - Banded Lapwing?: "I see the mud larks have arrived again in the middle paddock."

Contributor's comments: According to the WA Dept of Conservation & Land Management the mudlark is also known as the magpie lark, peewit, peewee - ie. these terms refer to the same bird (Grallina cyanoleuca).

Contributor's comments: Mud-lark is a very common term in Adelaide for the Magpie-lark, which is used just as often. The bird is believed to be the Piping Shrike, South Australia's prolific emblem. As such, the bird is also known so, but less commonly.

Contributor's comments: In field sports, teams that performed well in wet sloppy conditions were often referred to as 'mudlarks'.