The much-maligned Pied Currawong

The Pied Currawong is a medium-sized bird – a bit bigger than a Magpie – all black with a white patch at the base of the tail, some white tips to the tail feathers, a white patch in the wings and a yellow eye-ring. The white patches are particularly visible in flight. Pied Currawongs have large powerful bills.

(Click on images for a larger view)

There are three species of currawongs in Australia and several races. They are closely related to magpies and butcherbirds. We also have the Grey Currawong in West Gippsland but this bird appears close to human habitation far less often than the Pied Currawong. 

L: Pied 'curra-cawong'          R: Grey 'chaling-chaling'

Some describe the Pied Currawong as sinister or menacing but I hope to dissuade you of this view.

At the moment, late autumn to early winter, the number of Pied Currawongs in urban areas begins to build. In our district, the birds come down from the higher country and spend winter in the warmer lowlands. Normally they are alone or in small family parties but at this time of year they can gather into flocks of twenty or more.

If you can hear a far reaching, drawn out ‘curra-cawong’call, or sometimes a clear wolf whistle, you have identified a Pied Currawong. Their calling becomes especially animated as they settle down to roost in some tall eucalypts at sunset or as their day begins, just after dawn.

Pied Currawongs are well distributed throughout the eastern half of Australia, where they prefer to inhabit tall eucalypt forests and woodlands and are becoming increasingly well-adapted to urban areas.

The comprehensive diet of the Pied Currawong can include seeds, insects, fruit, scraps, leftover pet food, lizards, other small birds (a favourite), gliders and small possums, etc. The predilection for preying on small birds is one of the reasons we have Pied Currawongs (and ravens), in good numbers in Drouin. Our town is well endowed with small birds that inhabit our parks, gardens, wetlands and bush reserves.

Some researchers believe that the decline of small bird species in urban areas is due to the influx of raven and currawong species. Others say it is more to do to with the clearing of habitat for developments. Provided there is habitat for small birds to occupy and in which to seek refuge, a state of balance between the dietary preferences of larger birds and the survival of the smaller ones, is achievable.

It is worth keeping in mind that domestic cats and other animals are responsible for killing far more small birds than are currawongs or ravens and that currawongs and ravens themselves have to often defend their own nestlings from other raiding birds such as Grey Butcherbirds, Kookaburras and Magpies. 

All’s fair in love and nature.