Grey Currawong

The Grey Currawong, Strepera versicolor, is seldom seen in and around the urban areas of West Gippsland. However only a short distance north into the low foothills and down south in some of the coastal woodlands, it is not unusual to encounter this bird. Some references suggest the populations are in decline locally because of a resistance to adapt to human urbanization. They certainly are a more shy bird than their close relative and much more common Pied Currawong.

Grey Currawongs have a less massive bill than Pied Currawongs and the ones in these parts are certainly grey (sometimes a dark grey) but not at all black. ‘Versicolor’ means variable in colour. Grey Currawongs have a distinctive ‘calink-a-link’ or ‘ching-a-ling’ call LINK. The Pied Currawong sounds like ‘hark-hark-the-lark’ LINK, or the recognizable ‘wolf whistle’ as they settle down at night.

Australia wide, there are 3 species of currawong, the pied, the grey and the black. There are several sub-species too and in some localities it is not easy to differentiate them. Currawongs are more closely related to magpies and butcherbirds than to ravens or crows.

The Grey Currawong is described as sedentary (more or less stays in the one territory year-round). The Pied Currawong in this area is definitely an altitudinal migrant. Grey Currawongs are omnivorous and spend a lot of time feeding on insects, larvae and small reptiles on the ground and under the bark of trees as well as seeds and fruit.

‘Currawong’ is an aboriginal onomatopoeic name.