Two Currawongs

There are three species of Currawongs that are endemic to Australia and there are several races of each. In West Gippsland we have the more abundant and familiar Pied Currawong and from time to time it is possible to come across the Grey Currawong. The Black Currawong is restricted to Tasmania.

Pied Currawong

After spending the summer breeding season in the high country, the more common and abundant Pied Currawongs are beginning to arrive in the ‘warmer’ lowlands for winter. Their characteristic ‘curra-urra-wong, curra-urra-wong’ call (LINK credit: xeno-canto.org), and the often heard ‘whee-oo’ wolf whistle are evocative, winter sounds of our district.

Pied Currawongs are regarded as an agricultural pest in some places. They are omnivorous feeders that will take seed, fruit, insects, small reptiles and fledglings as well as scraps and carrion. Others say this reputation is unwarranted as they do eat a lot of pest species and can often be seen ‘cleaning up’ after us in parks and playgrounds! They feed at all levels.

Pied Currawong distribution. (Credit: ala.org)

Generally found in well-treed reserves and towns, the Pied Currawong is fairly widespread along the eastern seaboard and several hundred kilometres inland. Our Pied Currawongs are altitudinal migrants and dispersive.

 

Grey Currawong

The Grey Currawong is a little bigger than the pied and has a finer, straighter bill. Grey Currawongs are much more elusive and less likely to inhabit urban areas. It is always nice to hear their diagnostic ‘ching-a-ling’ call (LINK, credit: xeno-canto.org), echo through the bush. Some references suggest the Grey Currawong numbers are in decline, perhaps a result of its inability to adapt to human urbanisation.

Usually only seen as singles or pairs, Grey Currawongs are found in eucalypt forests and woodlands from the high country to the coast. They tend to be more sedentary and to feed at ground level more frequently than their pied cousins. Grey Currawongs are omnivorous as well and will take a range of vertebrates, invertebrates, fruits, seeds and carrion.

Grey Currawong distribution. (Credit: ala.org)

In both species, the female is similar to the male. ‘Currawong’ is believed to be an aboriginal, onomatopoeic name for the call of the Pied Currawong. The Grey Currawong is believed to have more than 20 colloquial names.