Strepera graculina

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Family

Artamidae

Genus

Strepera

Species

graculina

Common Names

Pied Currawong, Currawong, Bell Magpie, Black Magpie, Chillawong, Mountain Magpie

Distinguishing Features

The Pied Currawong is a large, mostly black bird, with a bright yellow eye. There is a white crescent patch on the wing and white on the rump and tail tip. It has a strong black bill with a slight hook. Young Pied Currawongs are duller and browner than the adults.

Survey Techniques

Call and visual identification.

Species Call

A loud, gurgling  "curra-currow-currowk". Other sounds include deep croaks and a wolf whistle.

Similar Species

The Grey Currawong (Strepera fuliginosa) is also found in the ACT and is very similar in shape, being more grey in colour and lacking the white on the rump. The Australian Magpie (Gymnorhina tibicen ) can also be confused with the Currawong, however it is smaller in size and has much larger areas of white on its plumage, notably around the head and neck. The Magpie also has a red-brown eye.

Distribution

It is found right across Eastern Australia from far north Queensland to Victoria, excluding Tasmania.

Country of Origin

Australia

Conservation (Pet/Pest) Status - Regional

There has been a steady increase of birds in the region over summer (the breeding time of many other birds) potentially hindering the ability of other birds to breed successfully.

Conservation (Pet/Pest) Status - National

Secure, not listed under the EPBC Act 1999. Across NSW, attempts have been made to control the growing population numbers to protect other bird species.

The Pied Currawong of western VIC (Strepera graculina ashbyi) is critically endangered due to hybridization. The small and restricted population of Lord Howe Island (Strepera graculina crissalis) is listed as endangered.

LSCCES Population

In the LSCCES the species was abundant across the entire catchment with numbers highest in suburban Turner.

Associated vegetation community

Pied Currawongs are originally forest dwellers, however they have adapted well to urban environments.

Limiting Resources

This species has adapted extremely well to the urban environment. Being able to use a wide range of urban food and shelter resources means its survival is not limited. Its campacity to thrive in urban gardens in the ACT and its habit of predating on smaller bird species has seen the species implicated in the decline of native species, thought this has been disputed (see references). 

Breeding

Across the Canberra region, the species' nest building commences in July, peaks in August and finishes by November. A complete breeding event for one pair takes about 15 weeks, with a typical clutch size of 3, needing 21 days of incubation and around 30 days in the nest.

Behaviour

The species used to move out of Canberra during the summer to breed in the forests, however now the birds have become a very common breeding species within Canberra gardens. They can form large, noisy conspicuous flocks that wander nomadically over large distances. They are bold scavengers, often seen around rubbish in the suburbs.

Functional Group

Omnivore

Food Species

The Pied Currawong is a known predator of the eggs and young of other birds breeding in the Canberra region, particularly towards Suburb Fairy-wrens (Malurus cyaneus ), Common Starlings (Sternus vulgaris) and Common Blackbirds (Turdus merula ). If hunting in packs, they can eat young Brushtail possums (Trichosurus vulpecula) and lizards, but usually eat insects, caterpillars and berries.

Predators

This species is not vulnerable to attacks from other species and instead is a major predator of other smaller birds.

Interesting Fact

This species can cause problems for the survival of small birds during its breeding season, as a pair of Pied Currawong may kill about 40 broods (up to two kilograms) of small birds to raise one brood of its own.