• Welcome to BirdForum, the internet's largest birding community with thousands of members from all over the world. The forums are dedicated to wild birds, birding, binoculars and equipment and all that goes with it.

    Please register for an account to take part in the discussions in the forum, post your pictures in the gallery and more.
ZEISS DTI thermal imaging cameras. For more discoveries at night, and during the day.

Difference between revisions of "Pied Currawong" - BirdForum Opus

m (→‎External Links: updated VSearch and GSearch)
 
(8 intermediate revisions by 3 users not shown)
Line 1: Line 1:
[[Image:P8050703.jpg|thumb|550px|right|Photo by {{user|IanC|IanC}}<br>Inverell NSW, [[Australia]], August 2007]]
+
[[Image:P8050703.jpg|thumb|550px|right|Photo &copy; by {{user|IanC|IanC}}<br>Inverell NSW, [[Australia]], August 2007]]
 
'''Alternative names: Scrub Currawong; Pied Bell-Magpie; Pied Crow-Shrike; Black Magpie; Mountain Magpie'''
 
'''Alternative names: Scrub Currawong; Pied Bell-Magpie; Pied Crow-Shrike; Black Magpie; Mountain Magpie'''
 
;[[:Category:Strepera|Strepera]] graculina
 
;[[:Category:Strepera|Strepera]] graculina
 
==Identification==
 
==Identification==
44 - 50cm. A large, black passerine:
+
[[Image:Pied-Currawong-fem-A9986W.jpg|thumb|350px|right|Female<br />Photo &copy; by '''[http://www.birdforum.net/member.php?u=49168 Hans&Judy Beste]'''<br />Toowoomba Shire, [[Queensland]], April 2018]]
 +
44 - 50cm (17¼-19¾ in). A large, black passerine:
 
* Mostly black plumage
 
* Mostly black plumage
 
* Bright yellow eye
 
* Bright yellow eye
Line 9: Line 10:
 
* Large white patch on wing formed by white bases of primaries
 
* Large white patch on wing formed by white bases of primaries
 
* Large black bill and legs
 
* Large black bill and legs
[[Image:28923currawong.jpg|thumb|350px|right|Photo by {{user|stoop|stoop}}<br>Girraween NP, [[Queensland]], [[Australia]], August 2006]]
+
 
Sexes similar, males are slightly larger than females. Juveniles are similar but brown.
+
Sexes similar, though females are greyer and slightly smaller than males. Juveniles are similar but brown.
 
==Distribution==
 
==Distribution==
 
Found in eastern [[Australia]] and on Lord Howe Island.<br />
 
Found in eastern [[Australia]] and on Lord Howe Island.<br />
 
Locally common.
 
Locally common.
 
==Taxonomy==
 
==Taxonomy==
Six subspecies recognized:
+
Forms a superspecies with Black Currawong and is sometimes considered conspecific.<br />
 +
Though crow-like in appearance and habits, it is only distantly related to true [[:Category:Corvidae|crows]]crows, instead it belongs to the family [[:Category:Artamidae|Artamidae]], together with the closely related [[Australian Magpie]] and the [[:Category:Cracticus|butcherbirds]].
 +
====Subspecies====
 +
[[Image:28923currawong.jpg|thumb|350px|right|Photo &copy; by {{user|stoop|stoop}}<br>Girraween NP, [[Queensland]], [[Australia]], August 2006]]
 +
Six subspecies recognized<sup>[[#References|[1]]]</sup>:
 
* ''S. g. magnirostris'' from eastern Cape York Peninsula south to north [[Queensland]]
 
* ''S. g. magnirostris'' from eastern Cape York Peninsula south to north [[Queensland]]
 
* ''S. g. robinsoni'' in coastal ranges of north [[Queensland]] and eastern slopes of Great Dividing Range
 
* ''S. g. robinsoni'' in coastal ranges of north [[Queensland]] and eastern slopes of Great Dividing Range
Line 22: Line 27:
 
* ''S. g. ashbyi'' in southern half of western [[Victoria]]
 
* ''S. g. ashbyi'' in southern half of western [[Victoria]]
 
* ''S. g. crissalis'' on Lord Howe Island and offshore islands
 
* ''S. g. crissalis'' on Lord Howe Island and offshore islands
Forms a superspecies with Black Currawong and is sometimes considered conspecific.<br />
+
 
Though crow-like in appearance and habits, it is only distantly related to true [[:Category:Corvidae|crows]]crows, instead it belongs to the family [[:Category:Cracticidae|Cracticidae]], together with the closely related [[Australian Magpie]] and the [[:Category:Cracticus|butcherbirds]].
 
 
==Habitat==
 
==Habitat==
 
Eucalypt forests and woodlands. Also in settled areas, farmland, country towns and green parts of cities.
 
Eucalypt forests and woodlands. Also in settled areas, farmland, country towns and green parts of cities.
 
==Behaviour==
 
==Behaviour==
 +
====Diet====
 
Feeds omnivorous: fruit, seeds, insects, small vertebrates (including young birds) or snails.<br />
 
Feeds omnivorous: fruit, seeds, insects, small vertebrates (including young birds) or snails.<br />
Forages by gleaning on ground and among foliage for insects and fruit. In winter sometimes in large groups.<br />
+
Forages by gleaning on ground and among foliage for insects and fruit. In winter sometimes in large groups.
Breeding season generally from August to December. A solitary and territorial breeder. The female builds a bowl shaped nest of sticks, lined with grasses and other soft material in a tree fork. Lays 3 - 4 eggs. The female incubates the eggs, and the male feeds her. The male also supplies food to the female for the first week after the chicks hatch and she feeds the chicks. Nest parasitism by [[Channel-billed Cuckoo]] recorded.<br />
+
====Breeding====
 +
Breeding season generally from August to December. A solitary and territorial breeder. The female builds a bowl shaped nest of sticks, lined with grasses and other soft material in a tree fork. Lays 3 - 4 eggs. The female incubates the eggs, and the male feeds her. The male also supplies food to the female for the first week after the chicks hatch and she feeds the chicks. Nest parasitism by [[Channel-billed Cuckoo]] recorded.
 +
====Movements====
 
Movements are not yet well understood.
 
Movements are not yet well understood.
 
====Vocalisation====
 
====Vocalisation====
 
The main call is a loud ''currawong'', which gives the bird its name. Other frequent sounds include deep croaks and a wolf whistle.
 
The main call is a loud ''currawong'', which gives the bird its name. Other frequent sounds include deep croaks and a wolf whistle.
 +
<br />
 +
<br />
 +
{{Audio|Pied Currawong - Melbourne, Australia.mp3}}<br />
 +
Recording &copy; by {{user|Saxon0192|Saxon0192}}<br />Melbourne, [[Victoria]], [[Australia]], 15th February 2022
 +
 
==References==
 
==References==
#{{Ref-Clements6thDec09}}#{{Ref-HBWVol14}}
+
#{{Ref-Clements6thAug21}}#{{Ref-HBWVol14}}
 
{{ref}}
 
{{ref}}
 
==External Links==
 
==External Links==
{{GSearch|Strepera+graculina}}
+
{{GSearch|"Strepera graculina" {{!}} "Pied Currawong"}}
 
+
<br />
 +
{{VSearch|"Strepera graculina" {{!}} "Pied Currawong", video}}
 +
{{GS-checked}}1
 +
<br />
 +
<br />
  
[[Category:Birds]] [[Category:Strepera]]
+
[[Category:Birds]] [[Category:Strepera]] [[Category:Videos]]

Latest revision as of 13:59, 30 May 2023

Photo © by IanC
Inverell NSW, Australia, August 2007

Alternative names: Scrub Currawong; Pied Bell-Magpie; Pied Crow-Shrike; Black Magpie; Mountain Magpie

Strepera graculina

Identification

Female
Photo © by Hans&Judy Beste
Toowoomba Shire, Queensland, April 2018

44 - 50cm (17¼-19¾ in). A large, black passerine:

  • Mostly black plumage
  • Bright yellow eye
  • Small patches of white under tail, the tips and bases of the tail feathers
  • Large white patch on wing formed by white bases of primaries
  • Large black bill and legs

Sexes similar, though females are greyer and slightly smaller than males. Juveniles are similar but brown.

Distribution

Found in eastern Australia and on Lord Howe Island.
Locally common.

Taxonomy

Forms a superspecies with Black Currawong and is sometimes considered conspecific.
Though crow-like in appearance and habits, it is only distantly related to true crowscrows, instead it belongs to the family Artamidae, together with the closely related Australian Magpie and the butcherbirds.

Subspecies

Photo © by stoop
Girraween NP, Queensland, Australia, August 2006

Six subspecies recognized[1]:

  • S. g. magnirostris from eastern Cape York Peninsula south to north Queensland
  • S. g. robinsoni in coastal ranges of north Queensland and eastern slopes of Great Dividing Range
  • S. g. graculina from eastern Queensland south to western slopes of Great Dividing Range, Blue Mountains and southeast New South Wales
  • S. g. nebulosa in southeast New South Wales tablelands and eastern Victoria
  • S. g. ashbyi in southern half of western Victoria
  • S. g. crissalis on Lord Howe Island and offshore islands

Habitat

Eucalypt forests and woodlands. Also in settled areas, farmland, country towns and green parts of cities.

Behaviour

Diet

Feeds omnivorous: fruit, seeds, insects, small vertebrates (including young birds) or snails.
Forages by gleaning on ground and among foliage for insects and fruit. In winter sometimes in large groups.

Breeding

Breeding season generally from August to December. A solitary and territorial breeder. The female builds a bowl shaped nest of sticks, lined with grasses and other soft material in a tree fork. Lays 3 - 4 eggs. The female incubates the eggs, and the male feeds her. The male also supplies food to the female for the first week after the chicks hatch and she feeds the chicks. Nest parasitism by Channel-billed Cuckoo recorded.

Movements

Movements are not yet well understood.

Vocalisation

The main call is a loud currawong, which gives the bird its name. Other frequent sounds include deep croaks and a wolf whistle.


Recording © by Saxon0192
Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, 15th February 2022

References

  1. Clements, J. F., T. S. Schulenberg, M. J. Iliff, S. M. Billerman, T. A. Fredericks, J. A. Gerbracht, D. Lepage, B. L. Sullivan, and C. L. Wood. 2021. The eBird/Clements checklist of Birds of the World: v2021. Downloaded from https://www.birds.cornell.edu/clementschecklist/download/
  2. 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

Recommended Citation

External Links


GSearch checked for 2020 platform.1

Back
Top