Strepera fuliginosa
The Black Currawong, *Strepera fuliginosa*, is a large, striking passerine endemic to Tasmania and its surrounding islands. Reaching an imposing length of 45-50 cm with a wingspan of 76-80 cm and weighing 300-400 grams, its glossy black plumage is punctuated by bright, piercing yellow eyes and distinctive white patches on the primary wing feathers, visible primarily in flight. Its robust, hooked black bill is well-suited for its omnivorous diet. As a member of the Artamidae family, it is clos...
This adaptable bird primarily inhabits wet sclerophyll forests, temperate rainforests, and sub-alpine woodlands, often found at forest edges or in modified agricultural and suburban environments. It occurs from sea level up to the higher elevations of Tasmania's mountain ranges.
Omnivorous and highly opportunistic, the Black Currawong's diet consists mainly of large insects, their larvae, small mammals, nestling birds, lizards, and eggs, supplemented seasonally by native fruits, berries, and carrion. They primarily forage by ground gleaning and arboreal hunting.
Black Currawongs are diurnal, active from dawn to dusk, and typically roost communally in tall trees. Their foraging strategies are diverse: they expertly glean invertebrates from the ground and foliage, probe for insects under bark, and are adept at catching small vertebrates in swift aerial pur...
The Black Currawong is strictly endemic to the island of Tasmania and the numerous islands of Bass Strait, including King Island, Flinders Island, and Bruny Island, off the southeastern coast of Australia. This species is a non-migratory resident throughout its distribution, with no known seasona...
Least Concern
- The Black Currawong is endemic only to the island state of Tasmania and its surrounding islands. - Despite their name, currawongs are not true crows, but are part of the Artamidae family, which also includes butcherbirds and Australian magpies. - Their most famous call, a melodic "curra-wong," ...