Named after their resemblance to the Eurasian magpie, to which they are not actually closely related, Australian magpies are a protected native species, and to some, a beloved national icon.

An elderly Australian man was killed Sunday after he crashed into a fence while riding his bike — with the fatal collision reportedly a result of his efforts to avoid a swooping magpie.

Magpies are widely beloved in Australia despite their penchant for violent swooping. Magpie swoopings are a common occurrence in September and October in Australia, resulting in hundreds of ...

Just in 2019, there have been a reported 1,570 swoopings of magpies that have caused 189 injuries, according to Magpie Alert. An Australian man died Sunday while riding his bike after a magpie ...

(CNN) — An Australian family is mourning the loss of a five-month-old girl who died after her mother tried to protect her from a swooping magpie.

However, a magpie knowing your friendly face might not protect you if they can't actually see it behind your mask. "We don't know whether [masks will make swooping season worse], but there is a ...

An Australian bike rider died Sunday after he veered off the road to avoid a swooping magpie, police say. The unidentified 76-year-old man was cycling along Nicholson Park in Woonona, New South ...

One Australian national study — “Magpies Behaving Badly” — found that 90% of men and 72% of women have been attacked by a magpie at some time in their life. Some folks are repeat victims.

Magpie swooping season is upon us folks, which means trying to dodge those feisty beasts becomes a competitive sport. We know all the tips; don’t make eye contact, keep walking and don’t stop ...

In mid August, a swooping Magpie caused a mother to trip while she was carrying her 5-month-old baby, who later died. A magpie in Melbourne, Australia in 2019. Michael Dodge/Getty Images ...

An Australian native Magpie feeds on seed in a suburban back yard, in Canberra, Australia in this illustrative image. A man died in Sydney after he tried to avoid a swooping magpie which gets ...

By Angus Watson, CNN An Australian family is mourning the loss of a five-month-old girl who died after her mother tried to protect her from a swooping magpie. Baby Mia was in her mother’s arms ...