Strepera graculina
Silhouette: Michael Scroggie · PhyloPic
In 3 days >90%
The pied currawong (Strepera graculina) is a black passerine bird native to eastern Australia and Lord Howe Island. One of three currawong species in the genus Strepera, it is closely related to the butcherbirds and Australian magpie of the family Artamidae. Six subspecies are recognised. It is a robust crowlike bird averaging around 48 cm (19 in) in length, black or sooty grey-black in plumage with white undertail and wing patches, yellow irises, and a heavy bill. The male and female are similar in appearance. Known for its melodious calls, the species' name currawong is believed to be of indigenous origin.
Within its range, the pied currawong is generally sedentary, although populations at higher altitudes relocate to lower areas during the cooler months. It is omnivorous, with a diet that includes a wide variety of berries and seeds, invertebrates, bird eggs, juvenile birds and young marsupials. It is a predator which has adapted well to urbanisation and can be found in parks and gardens as well as rural woodland. The habitat includes every kind of forested area, although mature forests are preferred for breeding. Roosting, nesting and the bulk of foraging take place in trees, in contrast with the ground-foraging behaviour of its relative, the Australian magpie. Wikipedia →
| # | Park | Country | Daily sighting probability |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lamington National Park | 🇦🇺 Australia | |
| 2 | Kosciuszko National Park | 🇦🇺 Australia | |
| 3 | Springbrook National Park | 🇦🇺 Australia | |
| 4 | Great Otway National Park | 🇦🇺 Australia | |
| 5 | Royal National Park | 🇦🇺 Australia | |
| 6 | Blue Mountains National Park | 🇦🇺 Australia | |
| 7 | Grampians National Park | 🇦🇺 Australia | |
| 8 | Noosa National Park | 🇦🇺 Australia | |
| 9 | Booderee National Park | 🇦🇺 Australia | |
| 10 | Wilsons Promontory National Park | 🇦🇺 Australia | |
| 11 | Daintree National Park | 🇦🇺 Australia |
Very likely
About 70% of wildlife watchers report a Pied Currawong sighting in Sydney on a given day, based on 15,033 verified sightings from GBIF citizen-science data. It is the 7th most-seen of the 243 birds we can rate there. Over three days the chance rises to over 90%, if each day is a fresh chance.
August to November
In those months about 70% of wildlife watchers report a Pied Currawong in Sydney on a given day, against about 60% in December to July, the lowest months.
Between 1 and 4 pm
Across all the parks we cover, that three-hour window holds the most Pied Currawong sightings with a recorded time, and nearly all of them come between 6 am and 6 pm: it is a daytime animal.
Yes
Of the 3 cities where we can rate Pied Currawong sightings, Sydney has the highest daily chance: about 70%. Next come Brisbane (Australia, about 50%) and Melbourne (Australia, about 50%).
Same family: Cracticidae
The closest relatives of the Pied Currawong that you can see in Sydney (family Cracticidae) are Australian Magpie (about 80%) and Grey Butcherbird (about 50%), with each one's daily chance of a sighting.
GBIF citizen-science records
It is estimated from how often the Pied Currawong is recorded against all the birds logged in Sydney (15,033 verified sightings), calibrated against known sighting rates. Figures are rounded to the nearest 10% because citizen-science data supports honest approximations, not decimals, and months with records from fewer than five people show "—". How it works.
