Alternative names: Black Jay; Black Magpie
- Corcorax melanorhamphos
Identification
44-50 cm (17¼-19¾ in)
- Downward curved bill
- Eye orange, deep pink outer ring
- Large white wing patches divided by black lines at edge of flight feathers.
- Long, completely black tail that separates it from similar species.
- White wing hidden when on ground, though, white lines may be seen when wing is drooped
Sexes similar. Juveniles have a dark eye and a brownish plumage.
Similar Species
Looks somewhat similar to, but has no family relationship with, the other two Choughs (Red-billed Chough and Yellow-billed Chough).
Distribution
East and south Australia.
Widespread but not common.
Taxonomy
The different authorities don't agree on the spelling of melanorhamphos / melanoramphos.
Subspecies
Two subspecies are recognized[1]:
- C. m. melanorhamphos in eastern Australia (from eastern half of Queensland south to New South Wales, Victoria and southeast South Australia)
- C. m. whiteae in south and southeast Australia (Eyre Peninsula and Mt Lofty Ranges)
There are only slight differences in these two subspecies and whiteae is not always accepted.
Habitat
Dry woodland and mallee. Also found in plantations of exotic pines, well-wooded farmland and suburban areas with parks and large gardens.
Behaviour
Photo © by Delia Todd
Brown's Road, Kinchina Conservation Park, Murray Bridge, South Australia, 4 November 2019
Diet
Feeds on a wide range of insects and seeds. Forages mainly on the ground in big groups, digging with its bill and turning over and raking through leaf litter.
Has been recorded chasing mice from under grass tussocks, grabbing them by the neck and beating them against the ground before consuming them.
Breeding
Breeding season in austral spring and early summer from September to December. A co-operative breeder with up to 18 helpers for a pair. The nest is a large bowl made of mud. It's placed 2.5 to 20m above the ground on a tree. Lays 3 - 5 eggs.
Movements
A sedentary species, wandering over a large home range outside breeding season.
Vocalisation
Contact and alarm calls
Recorded © by Azzy near Para Wirra Recreation Park, South Australia. 8th April 2010.
References
- Clements, J. F., T. S. Schulenberg, M. J. Iliff, S. M. Billerman, T. A. Fredericks, B. L. Sullivan, and C. L. Wood. 2019. The eBird/Clements Checklist of Birds of the World: v2019. Downloaded from http://www.birds.cornell.edu/clementschecklist/download/
- Del Hoyo, J, A Elliott, and D Christie, eds. 2009. Handbook of the Birds of the World. Volume 14: Bush-shrikes to Old World Sparrows. Barcelona: Lynx Edicions. ISBN 978-8496553507
- Simpson, K and N Day. 1998. Field Guide to the Birds of Australia. London: Christopher Helm. ISBN 0-7136-4877-5
Recommended Citation
- BirdForum Opus contributors. (2024) White-winged Chough. In: BirdForum, the forum for wild birds and birding. Retrieved 19 April 2024 from https://www.birdforum.net/opus/White-winged_Chough
External Links
GSearch checked for 2020 platform.1
