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Pied currawongs are not related to magpies although they look very similar. The major difference is that currawongs have bright yellow eyes.
Pied currawongs range in size from 42 to 50 centimetres and weigh about the same as a grapefruit - about 300 grams!
Pied currawongs are found throughout eastern Australia. They live in wet and dry forests, on farms and grasslands. They have adapted well to urban areas and are a common sight in neighbourhood gardens and parks.
Pied currawongs are omnivores, meaning their diet consists of animals and plants. They eat a wide variety of berries and seeds, insects, grubs, bird eggs and baby birds. Pied currawongs are also capable of taking larger prey such as small possums. They are known to create a ‘larder’ for food. A larder is another word for pantry. Tree crevices, hooks and tree forks are ideal for these larders. The food is eaten immediately or stored for later.
They use calls and songs to mark out their territory which means they need excellent hearing over long distances.
Pied currawongs have a hook on their large beak to shred (pull apart) their prey.
Pied currawongs create many interesting sounds to communicate including loud, high pitched whistles and a call described as “curra-wong curra-wong.” Different calls can be used to guard territory, as a warning to deter predators or during mating rituals.
Pied currawongs are known to occasionally hunt in groups - in the air, in bushes and on the ground. Hunting in groups makes it easier to catch prey. If threatened, pied currawongs can use beak-snapping, dive-bombing and aerial pursuit to ward off enemies.
They have successfully adapted to living in suburban areas and as a result their numbers are growing. This is because food sources are abundant - both human and natural.
Pied currawongs build their nests in tree forks up to 25 metres from the ground. The pair collect sticks and twigs to make the nest. Females build the nests over a period of two weeks. They lay between two to four spotted eggs and sit on them for approximately 20 days during which time the males will feed them. Once hatched, both birds will feed the young chicks until they become independent several months later. Juveniles (baby currawongs) are greyish in colour and have black eyes.
Predators of pied currawongs include brown snakes, lace monitors and carpet pythons. Pied currawongs also fall victim to parasitic birds called channel billed cuckoos. Parasitic birds lay their eggs in other bird’s nests and leave the hard work to the host bird!
If it doesn’t have a white bottom it isn’t a pied currawong! - "Pied Currawong" by Tatters ✾ CC BY-SA 2.0 (cropped)
Eucalyptus trees are the perfect place to do some high pitched whistles. - "Pied Currawong (Strepera graculina)" by DGERobertson CC BY-NC-SA 2.0 (cropped)
Pied currawongs use the forks of trees as a ‘larder’. - "Pied Currawong (Strepera graculina)" by Darcy Moore CC BY-NC-SA 2.0 (cropped)
An impressive hook for eating the toughest of meals! - "Pied Currawong (Strepera graculina)" by Darcy Moore CC BY-NC-SA 2.0 (cropped)
Pied currawongs are a common sight in the neighbourhood. - "Currawong" by Tatters ✾ CC BY-SA 2.0 (cropped)
Females build a bowl shaped nest using sticks and twigs. - "Pied Currawong" by NathanaelBC CC BY-NC-ND 2.0 (cropped)
Channel-billed cuckoos grow very big, very quickly and demand all the food. This one is still a baby! - "Channel-billed Cuckoo juvenile" by patrickkavanagh CC BY-NC-SA 2.0 (cropped)
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Field of Mars Reserve
Pittwater Road
East Ryde NSW 2112
telephone 02 9816 1298
We’d like to acknowledge the Wallumedegal Peoples of the Darug Nation, the Traditional Custodians of the land on which we stand and pay our respects to Elders past and present.
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