Bird of the Month: Grey Currawong
Posted on 27 July, 2024 by Ivan
Welcome to Bird of the Month, a partnership between Connecting Country and BirdLife Castlemaine District. Each month we’re taking a close look at one special local bird species. We’re excited to join forces to deliver you a different bird each month, seasonally adjusted, and welcome suggestions from the community. We are blessed to have the brilliant Jane Rusden and Damian Kelly from BirdLife Castlemaine District writing about our next bird of the month, accompanied by Damian’s stunning photos.
Grey Currawong (Strepera versicolor)
At my home in Campbells Creek, I regularly see the imposing Grey Currawong. The individuals I see are likely to be the same pair I’ve been watching for years. The small birds are a bit scared of the Grey Currawong, with good reason as you’ll read below, but they are an important part of the forest ecosystem despite their small vertebrate munching habits. If you are lucky enough to see one up close, you’ll notice the bright yellow eye, so beautiful against the grey plumage and probably summing you up in a way that feels both intelligent and slightly intimidating.
Grey Currawong in full glory and piercing yellow eyes. Photo by Damian Kelly
Often heard before you see them with their distinctive “clink clink” call, Grey Currawongs are widespread throughout our area. They can be found in a wide variety of habitats ranging from home gardens in town to open forests and in treed areas on farms. They are very adaptable thanks to their omnivorous diet that includes invertebrates, small birds, lizards and small rodents as well as fruit when available. They are opportunistic and can be found foraging mainly on the ground as well as in foliage, often in small groups ranging from 3-11 individuals.
They build large and untidy open cup-shaped nests. Usually, 2-3 eggs are laid although more are sometimes recorded. Most of the brooding is done by the female but both parents feed the young. Occasionally Channel-billed Cuckoos have been recorded being fed by Currawongs.
In wide areas of southern Victoria including our local area, Grey Currawongs overlap with Pied Currawongs. They can be easily distinguished as the Pied Currawong is generally a much darker bird with a lot more white on the tail and wings. Calls are also quite distinct.
Grey Currawong attempting to drink from two bird baths at once. Photo by Damian Kelly
Banding studies have demonstrated that the Grey Currawong is largely sedentary with only limited movements based on food availability. Some studies have shown 99% of birds have moved less than 10km. They are quite long-lived birds with some banded birds that have been known to live 16-19 years.
To find out more about Grey Currawongs and listen to its call, click here.
To find out more about Pied Currawong and listen to its call, click here.
Hello,
We were lucky enough yesterday to be having lunch with friends at our home to see a Grey Currawong showing much interest in a pig mobile under our eves (used to stop birds trying to fly through our windows) . Then on the window sill trying to sum up a life sized bronze raven sculpture inside. He was there for about 5 minutes examining and measuring up while is mate watched intently from a nearby tree.
A welcome visitor and very well behaved.
What a treat. very inquisitive they are.