Sandy Goddard was travelling from work this week, on a road she uses most days, when an unusual sight caught her eye.
"I spotted him on the side of the road just outside of Geelong, in Victoria," Ms Goddard said.
"I thought it was a weird looking rock at first. Then he moved!"
Ms Goddard enjoys bird photography and said she was lucky to capture some clear images, after stopping on the side of the road.
"I really hope he doesn't get hit by a car, it's a bloody busy road," she said.
"He was right out the front of a house and they probably see him everyday and don't even realise how special it is."
Magpie a rare bird
Birdlife Australia's Mick Roderick said the bird's unusual spots were caused by a rare condition called leucism, a genetic variation in the cells responsible for producing black pigment.
"Birders would probably describe [it] as being 'piebald', but its plumage is explained by a condition called 'leucism'," he said.
"It's very uncommon.
"This bird has a good mix of dark (normal) and leucistic feathers, which is what makes it look piebald."
Last year, a rare white leucistic magpie was found in Adelaide Parklands.
'Dalmatian magpie'
While most Australians are familiar with magpies and their distinctive, warbling song which resonates through both bush and city, many keen twitchers report they have never seen a magpie quite like this before.
Ms Goddard's photos were shared on a bird photography page on social media, where they have generated a lot of interest.
"That's not a magpie — it's a Dalmatian! Look around as there's another 100 somewhere nearby," Louise Howe wrote.
"A Dalmatian magpie!" Simone Stoicov wrote, while Peter Haynes described it as an "Appaloosa maggie".
Helen McDonald said the spotted magpie brought back happy memories for her.
"There used to be one near my late parents home, in the '90s in Beaconsfield Victoria; they called it Freckles," she said.
Babies to feed?
Colour, and colour variation, can be important to birds, especially when it comes to choosing a mate.
Ms Goddard said despite its uncommon appearance, the magpie appeared to be doing well, and some locals said they suspected it had a mate and young to feed.
"A few local people have contacted me after seeing the photos to tell me they've been watching the bird for around for 18 months," she said.
"A few suspect he has a nest nearby due to the large mouthful of worms."
