Birds
Currawong
Strepera spp. · also called currawongs
A currawong’s ringing call carries across an Australian forest clearing, distinctive enough that a nearby lyrebird has already worked a close copy of it into its own repertoire. The currawong itself, meanwhile, is busy investigating an unattended nest, opportunistic appetite and sharp problem-solving instincts working together as always.
Overview
Currawongs, genus Strepera, are intelligent, opportunistic birds native to forest and open habitat across Australia. Their far-carrying calls, adaptable diet, and notable cognitive flexibility make them some of the more behaviourally sophisticated birds in their range.
A voice worth copying
The currawong’s distinctive call has earned it an unusual honour among Australian birds: becoming a regular feature in the extensive vocal repertoire of the lyrebird, one of the most celebrated mimics in the animal kingdom.
Status
Least Concern — widespread and stable across suitable forest and open habitat throughout Australia.
Currawong: common questions
Why does the lyrebird imitate the currawong?
A currawong produces a loud, distinctive, far-carrying call notable enough that it has become one of the many bird calls copied by the lyrebird, one of the most accomplished vocal mimics in the animal kingdom, which incorporates the currawong's call alongside those of numerous other species into its own extended song.
Is the currawong bad for other birds' nests?
A currawong can be a significant predator of the eggs and nestlings of smaller bird species, readily taking eggs and young from unattended nests as part of its broadly opportunistic diet, a role that makes it an important and sometimes controversial influence on local songbird breeding success in areas where currawongs are common.
How intelligent is the currawong?
A currawong displays notably intelligent, problem-solving behaviour, sometimes manipulating objects or exploiting new and unusual food sources in ways that suggest considerable cognitive flexibility, a trait shared broadly among the more intelligent bird groups found in Australia.
Where does the currawong live?
Currawong species are native to forest, woodland, and open grassland habitat across Australia, with different species occupying somewhat different regional ranges, and the birds have also adapted well to areas close to human settlement, taking advantage of expanded food availability.