Last year, I photographed a Black-wing Currawong, which is a race of the Grey Currawong. Here is a Grey Currawong for comparison.
Striding around the base of the fruit trees, this Grey Currawong looked like it was on a mission.
The Grey Currawong has light grey colouring, with black primary wing feathers and black around the yellow eye. The bird also has white tips on the tail feathers, white tips on primary wing feathers and white beneath the tail. Breeding occurs between August and December in a large nest in the fork of a tree.
My attention was first drawn to the Grey Currawong when I saw cardboard strewn around our fruit trees. We’d had some coffee grounds in boxes, waiting to be dug into the garden. With the rain, my guess is the soggy cardboard held some tasty insects. I photographed the Currawong throwing a piece of cardboard around to get at something beneath it.
Tossing a piece of cardboard around beneath the clothes line. (Painted stump/washing basket rest courtesy of the previous owner.)
A few days later, a Grey Currawong was on a tree-stump, just beside our deck, looking for food.
This shot provides a good view of the markings on the wings and tail.
For some reason, I haven’t seen a lot of Currawongs of any description, so I found the Grey Currawong fascinating to watch. It is such a striking bird to look at with the black, grey and white markings. So streamlined and sleek, with a very determined look. I don’t think I would like to get in between it and whatever it had its eye set on. With that large sharp beak, and yellow eye, it’s certainly a formidable looking bird.
I love the colour of the Grey Currawong’s face with that large sharp beak and the yellow eye set among the coal-black feathers on its face.
I’ve only seen the Pied Currawong. Interesting to see other varieties. 🙂
It’s interesting – I haven’t seen a Pied Currawong yet! 🙂
Hi Lisa, This is a beautiful bird! It seems to be large, and the big beak is not friendly 🙂 Per your description, the yellow eyes are very beautiful. They remind me of the corrupiao’s eyes in Brazil. Please take a look at this: http://www.wikiaves.com.br/corrupiao
Thanks so much for the posting! Your 15-acre place is so rich in stories, and visitors! Thanks so much for sharing your world with us! Take care! 🙂
Hi Fabio, Thanks for the link to the Corrupiao – what a vivid orange/gold on the feathers! Another beautiful bird. It’s always interesting to see species we don’t have over here. Yes, the yellow eye is beautiful against the black face, and it draws immediate attention. Regarding size, I just consulted the field guide I have. Apparently the female Grey Currawong grows somewhere between 45 and 50 cm, and the male can be larger. A site I follow ‘Natural Newstead’ has a post which features photos of the Pied Currawong. So far, I haven’t noticed Pied Currawongs here. Newstead is about an hour and a half away from where we are, and Natural Newstead blog features some beautiful bird photographs.
I’m glad you enjoy seeing the flora and fauna we have here! 🙂
Lisa
Hi Lisa, Thanks so much for your detailed explanations and for the blog that you have mentioned, which contains very good stuff! Per your information, the Grey Currawong is really big. Again, thanks a lot for sharing with us such treasures that you have so close to you! 🙂