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Pied Currawong (Strepera graculina) Alternate name(s): "(Pied) Bell Magpie", "Chillawong", "Pied Crow-shrike", "Black Magpie*", "Muttonbird*", "Mountain Magpie*" Aboriginal name(s): "cur-ow-ung*" [awaba], "kirriwong*" [birbai]; "jalwahng"/"jalwang"/"jarwang"/"jarwan" [bundjalung]; "kilirn" [tjapwurrung] Size: 44-50 cm; wing span 55-67 cm Body mass: 260-385 g (male), 240-325 g (female) Wing loading [g/cm2]: 0.37-0.44

Australia: Family Group 22 Family Group 22 Table White-winged Triller Varied Triller Black-faced Cuckoo-shrike White-bellied Cuckoo-shrike Barred Cuckoo-shrike Ground Cuckoo-shrike Sahul Cicadabird (Australasian) Yellow Oriole Olive-backed Oriole Australasian Figbird White-breasted Woodswallow Masked Woodswallow White-browed Woodswallow Black-faced Woodswallow Dusky Woodswallow Little Woodswallow Black Butcherbird Grey Butcherbird Silver-backed Butcherbird Black-backed Butcherbird Pied Butcherbird Australian Magpie Black Currawong Grey Currawong Pied Currawong Thumbnails page Family group table Index of bird names Habitat pages Key plants Birds home page

Similar species

Description     Classification     Distribution     Sightings     Photos     Breeding     Nest     Eggs     Behaviour     Food     Call/s

Physical description Click here for a physical description Pied Currawongs are large predatorial birds. Their plumage is dark-grey almost throughout, except for white wing spots, a white rump and undertail coverts, and a white terminal band on the tail. The eyes have striking yellow-orange irises. The long, strong, hooked bill is near-black. The legs and feet are dark-grey. Juveniles are a bit duller and browner than adults and for several months they have a characteristic, light-coloured (creamy) gape. Twitcher's tip There are three Australian bird species that display a white spot on their underwings: White-winged Chough, Pied Currawong and the Dollarbird.

Taxonomy, classification See Pied Currawong at Wikipedia .

Range, habitat, finding this species Click here for information on habitat and range The overall distribution of this species can be assessed, and specific locations where birds have been spotted can be found, based on individual sighting reports submitted by birdwatchers to ebird.org . The global distribution of the Pied Currawong is available HERE . Pied Currawongs are endemic to Australia. There are five races of Pied Currawongs along the eastern part of the Australian continent, in and around the Great Dividing Range. Their distribution ranges from Cape York to the southern tip of VIC. From a narrow coastal margin near Cairns, QLD, their range can extend up to about 500 km inland, across south-eastern QLD, eastern NSW and VIC, up to the VIC/SA border. There are no Pied Currawongs in Tasmania or anywhere else on the Australian continent. From about Cairns, QLD, to Sydney, NSW, nominate race "graculina" is found. Race "robinsoni" resides in the tablelands near Cairns, QLD, whereas the eastern half of Cape York peninsula is populated by race "magnirostris". In western VIC, from about 100 km westward of Melbourne, one finds race "ashbyi". In between roughly Sydney, NSW, and Melbourne, VIC, including inland (the Murray-Darling Basin) race "nebulosa" resides. There is a separate race of Pied Currawong on Lord Howe Island, "crissalis". During the breeding season Pied Currawongs stay mostly in open forest and woodland. In autumn/winter they disperse into more open country and come closer to farms and into urban areas. Where to look? How to find this species? The best way to find Pied Currawongs is likely to visit a National Park and spend some time at a camping area. It is highly likely that there will be some Pied Currawongs hanging around the place in the hope of scavenging food from humans (or their pets).

Sightings Click here for sighting information Race "graculina" Pied Currawongs, race "graculina", are one of the most common bird species in our area, near Narrabri, NSW, at least to the East of town. They make themselves heard over long distances with their distinct calls. Pied Currawongs, race "graculina", are often found by us along roadsides. During the winter months (approx. March to September) they come close to human settlement, e.g. at Eulah Creek, while during the breeding season they retreat into nearby bushland, e.g. Mt. Kaputar NP and Deriah Aboriginal Area. Pied Currawongs, race "graculina", are also sighted by us regularly on trips into the Great Dividing Range and to the East of it, along the NSW and QLD coast. M. Mearns reports spotting Pied Currawongs, race "graculina", at Bunya Mountains NP, QLD, in December 2015. None were spotted by us at all during a trip westward from Narrabri via Brewarrina, along the Darling River towards Menindee in March 2008. The farthest west we have found a Pied Currawong is in the village of Pilliga, NSW, in February 2019. Race "ashbyi" M. Eaton reports finding a Pied Currawong, race "ashbyi", in Port Fairy, VIC, in April 2022. Race "robinsoni" J. Boettcher, FNQ Nature Tours found a Pied Currawong, race "robinsoni", at Mareeba, QLD, in July 2020. Race "magnirostris" Race "crissalis" B. Hensen reports spotting Pied Currawongs, race "crissalis", on Lord Howe Island in November 2014.

Photos

Race "graculina"

ADULT

Sex unknown

Frontal portrait of a Pied Currawong
[Eulah Creek, NSW, September 2014]

Close-up frontal portrait of a Pied Currawong (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Moggill Regional Park, near Anstead, QLD, April 2017]

Close-up frontal portrait of a Pied Currawong
[Oxley Wild Rivers NP, NSW, August 2015]

Close-up frontal view of a Pied Currawong looking sideways
[Eulah Creek, NSW, September 2013]

Near-frontal view of a Pied Currawong looking towards the observer
[Eulah Creek, NSW, May 2011]

Near-frontal view of a Pied Currawong looking sideways (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Anstead Reserve, Anstead, QLD, October 2021]

Near-frontal view of a Pied Currawong looking sideways (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Anstead Reserve, Anstead, QLD, October 2021]

Near-frontal view of a Pied Currawong (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Anstead Reserve, Anstead, QLD, October 2021]

Close-up near-lateral portrait of a Pied Currawong
[Oxley Wild Rivers NP, NSW, August 2015]

Near-lateral view of a Pied Currawong looking backwards (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Anstead Reserve, Anstead, QLD, October 2021]

Near-lateral/ventral view of a Pied Currawong looking sideways
[Warrumbungle NP, NSW, April 2006]

Close-up lateral portrait of a Pied Currawong
[Oxley Wild Rivers NP, NSW, August 2015]

Close-up lateral view of a Pied Currawong (photo courtesy of J. Boettcher, FNQ Nature Tours)
[Lamington NP, QLD, November 2020]

Lateral portrait of a Pied Currawong
[Eulah Creek, NSW, September 2014]

Close-up lateral view of a Pied Currawong looking towards the observer
[Eulah Creek, NSW, July 2014]

Lateral view of a Pied Currawong (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Anstead Reserve, Anstead, QLD, October 2021]

Close-up lateral view of a Pied Currawong; note the strong, slightly hooked bill and the upright stance while looking for prey in grass
[Eulah Creek, NSW, September 2013]

Lateral view of a Pied Currawong
[Eulah Creek, NSW, June 2007]

Lateral view of a Pied Currawong looking backwards and letting its wings droop in anticipation of an attack by an Australian Magpie
[Eulah Creek, NSW, September 2011]

Near-dorsal view of a Pied Currawong (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Anstead Reserve, Anstead, QLD, October 2021]

Near-dorsal view of a Pied Currawong (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Anstead Reserve, Anstead, QLD, October 2021]

Near-dorsal view of a Pied Currawong looking backwards
[Eulah Creek, NSW, July 2011]

Close-up near-dorsal view of a nosy Pied Currawong seen at an altitude of 1500 m
[Mt. Kaputar NP, NSW, August 2007]

Dorsal view of a Pied Currawong looking sideways
[Eulah Creek, NSW, September 2017]

Frontal/ventral view of a Pied Currawong in flight, with its wings stretched, thereby displaying the characteristic underwing pattern with the prominent white wing flashes
[Eulah Creek, NSW, August 2013]

Dorsal/ventral view of a Pied Currawong in gliding flight
[Near Narrabri, NSW, March 2007]

IMMATURE/JUVENILE

Frontal view of a juvenile Pied Currawong looking sideways (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Anstead, QLD, November 2023]

Near-frontal view of a juvenile Pied Currawong (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Anstead, QLD, November 2023]

Lateral view of a juvenile Pied Currawong tackling a bee (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Anstead, QLD, November 2023]

Lateral view of a juvenile Pied Currawong being fed (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Anstead, QLD, November 2023]

Lateral view of a juvenile Pied Currawong being fed; a big fruit also fits in (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Anstead, QLD, November 2023]

Near-dorsal/ventral view of a juvenile Pied Currawong looking back at the observer
(photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Anstead, QLD, November 2023]

Near-dorsal/ventral view of a juvenile Pied Currawong looking sideways (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Anstead, QLD, November 2023]

Ventral view of a juvenile Pied Currawong (photo courtesy of A. Ross-Taylor)
[Highland Park, Gold Coast, QLD, December 2013]

Ventral view of 3 juvenile Pied Currawongs waiting to be fed by their parents (photo courtesy of A. Ross-Taylor)
[Highland Park, Gold Coast, QLD, December 2013]

Deformed bill

A Pied Currawong came to our place with a mis-shaped upper mandible. The damage was reminiscent of that done to the bills of Sulphur-crested Cockatoos suffering from PBFD (psittacine beak and feather disease).

Frontal view of a Pied Currawong with a deformed bill
[Eulah Creek, NSW, April 2013]

Near-lateral view of a Pied Currawong with a deformed bill
[Eulah Creek, NSW, April 2013]

Race "ashbyi"

ADULT

Sex unknown

Near-lateral view of a Pied Currawong looking at the observer (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Port Fairy, VIC, April 2022]

Race "robinsoni"

IMMATURE/JUVENILE

Close-up dorsal view of a juvenile Pied Currawong looking sideways (photo courtesy of J. Boettcher, FNQ Nature Tours)
[Mareeba, QLD, July 2020]

Race "crissalis"

ADULT

Sex unknown

Lateral view of an adult Pied Currawong (photo courtesy of B. Hensen)
[Lord Howe Island, November 2014]

Lateral view of a Pied Currawong in flight (photo courtesy of B. Hensen)
[Lord Howe Island, November 2014]

Breeding information

Breeding season: Sep - Nov

Eggs: 2 - 4

Incubation period: 21 days

Fledging age: 30? days

Being nestrobbers, Pied Currawongs nest a bit later than other species that they prey upon to ensure the availability of food for their brood.

Pied Currawongs also have their own nests robbed occasionally, e.g. by Channel-billed Cuckoos.

Nest

"bungobittah", "lar", "malunna", "jindi" [bundjalung] = nest [Aboriginal]

Type: Basket

Material: Sticks, with grass and/or other lining

Height above ground: 5 - 25 m

Pied Currawong nest dislodged by a storn; here one can see clearly the lining material, which looks like grass or rootlets
(photo courtesy of V. Bowe)
[Cremorne, NSW, October 2012]

Pied Currawong building a nest (photo courtesy of V. Bowe)
[Cremorne, NSW, August 2012]

Pied Currawong on its nest (photo courtesy of V. Bowe)
[Cremorne, NSW, September 2012]

Lateral/ventral view of a Pied Currawong on its nest
[Dandry Gorge AA, NSW, October 2013]

Pied Currawong feeding one of the hatchlings in its nest (photo courtesy of V. Bowe)
[Cremorne, NSW, September 2012]

Pied Currawong bringing food to one of its chicks - another bird's chick
[Dandry Gorge AA, NSW, October 2013]

Pied Currawong feeding one of its three chicks; note that the location of this nest is unusual, in the North-West Plains, about 40 km away from the Great Dividing Range
[Yarrie Lake, near Wee Waa, NSW, October 2011]

Pied Currawong with hatchlings in its nest - in this case the adult bird is bringing nest material, not food
(photo courtesy of V. Bowe)
[Cremorne, NSW, September 2012]

Pied Currawong feeding its young chicks (photo courtesy of Y. Adams)
[Canberra, ACT, October 2017]

Eggs

"boyanga", "booyanga", "derinya", "dirandil", "koomura", "mirk", "ngampu", "nooluk", "pateena", "pum-pum" = Egg; "dirundirri" = eggs [Aboriginal]; "gawu" = eggs [gamilaraay]

Size: 41 x 30 mm

Colour: Grey-brown, with darker grey-brown speckles

Shape: Tapered oval

Pied Currawong hatchlings begging - of four eggs three hatched (photo courtesy of Y. Adams)
[Canberra, ACT, October 2017]

Two Pied Currawong hatchlings, with a third egg yet to hatch (photo courtesy of Y. Adams)
[Canberra, ACT, October 2017]

Pied Currawong nest with a full complement of four eggs (photo courtesy of Y. Adams)
[Canberra, ACT, October 2017]

Behaviour

Social behaviour: Communal

Mobility: Seasonally vagrant

Elementary unit: Small flock

During the breeding season, in well-wooded habitats, Pied Currawongs are territorial. But once the young are able to follow, the parents will integrate the family into larger communities. Whole flocks sometimes "raid" an area in large numbers, terrorising everything on their menu list, before moving on. At the time of dispersal, or in wintertime, we regularly find mobs of 20 Pied Currawongs, sometimes even 50, and once round about 200 in a ca. 500 m long stretch along a creek.

Distant view of a flock of Pied Currawongs
[Eulah Creek, NSW, May 2026]

Pied Currawongs are winter guests at our place, because chased away by Willie Wagtails during the breeding season.

After staying at our place 20 km east of Narrabri through the winter of 2007, the about 20 resident birds dispersed in late winter (around late July), just before the start of the breeding season. In the winter of 2010 they were again last seen at our place in significant numbers in late July.

Below an example of a Pied Currawong taking a bath, something we see only rarely.

Pied Currawong dipping into the water of our ornamental pond
[Eulah Creek, NSW, July 2011]

Rather than immersing itself, it splashed water by whipping its head sideways
[Eulah Creek, NSW, July 2011]

Next it shook off the water before retiring to a perch for a good preening session
[Eulah Creek, NSW, July 2011]

Two Pied Currawongs going about the business of bathing much more seriously
[Eulah Creek, NSW, August 2011]

Close-up frontal view of a Pied Currawong trying to fend off a Willie Wagtail
[Eulah Creek, NSW, September 2013]

Deemed impalatable, this Pied Currawong was allowed to live (and rob another nest)...
[Eulah Creek, NSW, September 2013]

Pied Currawong looking sideways, exhibiting the wickedly hooked bill - something no small animal will like to see
(photo courtesy of A. Ross-Taylor)
[Highland Park, Gold Coast, QLD, January 2013]

Food, Diet

Like all members of the Strepera family, Pied Currawongs are omnivores. They take animals from the size of large ants up to small birds or small lizards. As the most prolific nest robbers on the Australian continent they are feared by other bird species. They also feed on fruit, including introduced crops such as olives.

Near-lateral view of a Pied Currawong with its prey, a flying insect (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Anstead Reserve, Anstead, QLD, October 2021]

Near-lateral view of a Pied Currawong with its prey, a flying insect (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Anstead Reserve, Anstead, QLD, October 2021]

Near-dorsal view of a Pied Currawong with another bird's chick in its bill
[Dandry Gorge AA, NSW, October 2013]

Lateral view of the Pied Currawong looking into the nest hollow from which it took the chick
[Dandry Gorge AA, NSW, October 2013]

However, they have a very varied diet. They also feed on nuts and fruit, for example the seeds of White Cedars, olives and even grapes. They are known to regurgitate olives and White Cedar seeds into water, probably for softening them up. Given a chance, they will also scavenge dry catfood and sheep pellets.

Pied Currawong with a native fig in its bill (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Anstead, QLD, October 2023]

Lateral view of a Pied Currawong that has caught a small frog
[Eulah Creek, NSW, March 2012]

Photographic evidence showing that Pied Currawongs know how to kill frogs before devouring them
[Eulah Creek, NSW, March 2012]

Ventral view of a Pied Currawong with its catch, a big locust (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Oxley Common, Brisbane, QLD, August 2017]

When times are lean, even birds as big as Pied Currawongs resort to taking small prey, such as this psyllid with lerp
[Eulah Creek, NSW, July 2012]

Evidence of a varied Pied Currawong diet - this one is taking nectar from a Grevillea robusta
[Eulah Creek, NSW, October 2012]

Near-frontal/ventral view of a Pied Currawong that has caught a mouse
[Eulah Creek, NSW, April 2021]

Lateral view of a Pied Currawong on the prowl in grassland...
[Eulah Creek, NSW, April 2013]

Gotcha! Pied Currawong that has caught an insect
[Eulah Creek, NSW, April 2013]

This Pied Currawong is scavenging a piece of bread (photo courtesy of C. Hayne)

Pied Currawong drinking from a water bowl
[Warrumbungle NP, NSW, March 2007]

Call(s)/Song

For this species we have recorded the following call(s)/song. The interpretation of their meaning is our own; comments and suggestions for improvement are welcome.

Although always distinctive, the calls of Pied Currawongs have regional variations. Differences are noticeable over distances as short as tens of km.

curry_20170530.m4a	graculina (Narrabri, NSW)	Contact calls from highest perch	© MD
curry_20210502.m4a	graculina (Narrabri, NSW)	Contact calls (arrival)	© MD
curry_20180131.m4a	graculina (Narrabri, NSW)	Contact call (distant)	© MD
curry_art_20131113.m4a	graculina (Gold Coast, QLD)	Contact calls	© ART
curry_20150821.m4a	graculina (Dorrigo NP, NSW)	Contact calls	© MD
curry_20170831.m4a	graculina (Narrabri, NSW)	Raiding call(?)	© MD
curry_20210430.m4a	graculina (Narrabri, NSW)	Raiding calls(?), Q&A	© MD
curry_20170831_2.m4a	graculina (Narrabri, NSW)	Raiding calls(?), Q&A	© MD
curry_20220821.mp3	graculina (Narrabri, NSW)	Raiding calls(?), Q&A (+ Magpie-lark)	© MD
curry_20220822.mp3	graculina (Narrabri, NSW)	Raiding calls(?), Q&A (large mob)	© MD
curry_me_20211024.m4a	graculina (Anstead, QLD)	Raiding calls(?), mob	© ME
curry_20160311_3.m4a	graculina (Bunya Mts NP, QLD)	Raiding calls(?); mob (with Torresian Crows)	© MD
curry_20180105.m4a	graculina (Wee Waa, NSW)	Annoyed (by Willie Wagtail)	© MD
curry_me_20240827.m4a	graculina (Moggill, QLD)	Various, mob	© ME
curry_me_20231115.m4a	graculina (Anstead, QLD)	Begging calls (juvenile)	© ME
curry_20181215.m4a	graculina (Pilliga scrub, NSW)	Begging calls (juvenile)	© MD
curry_me_20211121.m4a	graculina (Moggill, QLD)	Various	© ME
curry_20171022.m4a	graculina (Mt. Kaputar NP, NSW)	Various	© MD

Click here for more recordings

More Pied Currawong sound recordings are available at xeno-canto.org .

These pages are largely based on our own observations and those of our contributors. The structure of these bird pages is explained HERE. For more salient facts on any bird species please refer to a field guide.

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