Meet the Gang · Magpie
Swoop the Magpie
The magpie who's scared of swooping season.
You found Flipsy! Look again…
Is it still spring? Asking for a friend.
- Species
- Australian magpie
- Scared of
- Swooping season, bikes and bike bells
- Always wears
- An orange bike helmet with cable ties, just in case
- Personality
- Nervous but brave
- Best friend
- Connor (who's scared of magpies)
- Fave season
- Definitely not spring
All about Swoop
Every spring, Aussie kids stick cable ties on their bike helmets to stop magpies swooping. Swoop wears one too. Just in case.
He puts on his bravest smile, plants his wings on his hips and keeps one eye on the sky at all times. In his story, Swoop meets Connor, a boy who's scared of magpies. It turns out they're scared of each other, and that's how the best friendships start.
MAGPIE FACTS FOR KIDS
- Magpie swooping season is spring, roughly August to November, when magpies are guarding their nests.
- Most magpies never swoop at all. When they do, it's usually the dads, protecting their babies.
- Magpies are clever birds that can recognise the faces of people they know.
Wear Swoop
Kids' sizes 5–14 · little sizes 2T–4T from $35 · UPF 50+ bucket hat $35
Read with Swoop
Swoop and the Bike Bell
Swoop is scared of bikes. Connor is scared of magpies. What happens when they meet?
Free read-along story · tap to turn the pages
Read the story
Colour in Swoop
Free colouring page
Print it, colour it, then hunt for Flipsy hiding somewhere on the page.
A4 printable PDF
Download Swoop
Swoop in the wild
Spotted your kid in a Swoop tee? Tag us and they might end up on this page.
@flipsykids
Swoop questions
Who is Swoop from Flipsy?
Swoop is an Australian magpie from the Flipsy gang who is scared of swooping season. He wears a kids' bike helmet with cable ties, just like Aussie kids do in spring.
Why do kids put cable ties on their helmets?
In magpie swooping season, many Australian kids add cable ties to their bike helmets in the hope it keeps swooping magpies away. Swoop thinks it's a very good idea.
Is there a Swoop story we can read?
Yes. Swoop and the Bike Bell is a free read-along story on the Flipsy Stories page, about Swoop and Connor, a boy who's scared of magpies.
