The Pied Currawong (Strepera graculina) is a medium-sized Australian bird. It looks like a crow, but it is only distantly related to crows and ravens.

The Pied Currawong is black with white bars on its wings and tail. It has booted feet (feathers on its legs). It has a hooked tip on its long, sharply-pointed beak. It has bright yellow eyes.

 

It grows to about 50 centimetres (20 inches) tall.

The Pied Currawong is from woodlands and urban areas in eastern Australia. It does not like being on the ground, but it will forage for food on the ground. It is arboreal, living in trees.

The Pied Currawong is omnivorous, eating insects, insect larvae (caterpillars), fruit, and young chicks of other birds.

It is not a good flyer. Instead of flying away when predators come, it will attack them with its large beak.

It lives in small flocks. The female builds her nest and sits on the eggs. Both male and female parents look after the chicks.

 

Photographer: Martina Nicolls

Martina Nicolls: SIMILAR BUT DIFFERENT IN THE ANIMAL KINGDOM