The black currawong (Strepera fuliginosa), also known locally as the black jay, is a large passerine bird endemic to Tasmania and the nearby islands within the Bass Strait. One of three currawong species in the genus Strepera, it is closely related to the butcherbirds and Australian magpie within the family Artamidae. It is a large crow-like bird, around long on average, with yellow irises, a heavy bill, and black plumage with white wing patches. The male and female are similar in appearance. Three subspecies are recognised, one of which, Strepera fuliginosa colei of King Island, is vulnerable to extinction.

Within its range, the black currawong is generally sedentary, although populations at higher altitudes relocate to lower areas during the cooler months. The habitat includes densely forested areas as well as alpine heathland. It is rare below altitudes of . Omnivorous, its diet includes a variety of berries, invertebrates, and small vertebrates. Less arboreal than the pied currawong, the black currawong spends more time foraging on the ground. It roosts and breeds in trees.

Taxonomy

The black currawong was first described by ornithologist John Gould in 1836 as Cracticus fuliginosus, and in 1837 as Coronica fuliginosa. The specific epithet is the Late Latin adjective fuliginosus "sooty" from Latin fūlīgo "soot", and refers to the black plumage. American ornithologist Dean Amadon regarded the black currawong as a subspecies of the pied currawong (Strepera graculina), seeing it as part of a continuum with subspecies ashbyi of the latter species, the complex having progressively less white plumage as one moves south. Subsequent authors have considered it a separate species, although Richard Schodde and Ian Mason describe it as forming a superspecies with the pied currawong. A 2013 genetic analysis by Anna Kearns and colleagues gave some indication that the black currawong lineage diverged from a common ancestor of the grey and pied currawongs (though sampling was limited and not the focus of the study).

Common names include black currawong, sooty currawong, black bell-magpie,<!-- cites two previous -->

There are three subspecies of the black currawong: the nominate form Strepera fuliginosa fuliginosa of Tasmania; Strepera fuliginosa parvior of Flinders Island, described by Schodde and Mason in 1999; The two island subspecies have identical plumage to the nominate, but are slightly smaller with shorter wings and tails, subspecies colei having a shorter tail than parvior. Ornithologists Charles Sibley and Jon E. Ahlquist recognised the close relationship between the woodswallows and the butcherbirds and relatives in 1985, and combined them into a Cracticini clade, which later became the family Artamidae.

Voice

The black currawong is a loud and vocal species, and makes a variety of calls. Its main call is markedly different from the pied or grey currawongs and has been described as a combination of alternating kar and wheek sounds, killok killok, or even akin to part song and part human laughter. The black currawong is unlikely to be mistaken for the closely related pied currawong as the latter does not reach Tasmania, but it has a longer and deeper bill and lacks the white rump and undertail coverts.

Distribution and habitat

thumb|left|Juvenile black currawong, [[Cradle Mountain|alt=A brownish black bird looks to be squawking perched next to a bush with red flowers.]]

The black currawong is endemic to Tasmania Within its range it is largely sedentary, although some populations at higher altitudes may move to lower altitudes during winter. Flocks have also been recorded making the long journey across water from Maria Island to the mainland in the morning and returning at nightfall, The black currawong has expanded into the northeast corner of the island, to Musselroe Bay and Cape Portland. The black currawong has an undulating flight pattern in time with its wing beats, and often cocks its tail in the air for balance when it lands.

One species of chewing lice, Australophilopterus curviconus, has been recovered and described from a black currawong near Launceston.

Breeding

Breeding occurs from August to December. Like all currawongs, it builds a large cup-nest out of sticks, lined with softer material, and placed in the fork of a tree from high. A typical clutch has two to four pale grey-brown, purplish-buff, spotted, blotched red-brown or purplish-brown eggs. as well as Astroloma humifusum, and the native sedge Gahnia grandis, as well as domestic pea, A bird that was being harassed by three scarlet robins (Petroica boodang) was seen to turn on them and catch and eat one suddenly. Other vertebrates recorded as prey include the house mouse (Mus musculus), ducklings, the young of domestic turkey, Tasmanian nativehen (Tribonyx mortierii),<!-- cites both -->

It can become quite bold and tame, much like its close relative, the pied currawong on the Australian mainland, especially in public parks and gardens where people make a habit of feeding it. raiding orchards, Birds also take other items such as soap or cutlery from campsites to examine. and has been listed as vulnerable. There are estimated to be around 500 birds.

References

Citations

Cited texts

  • BirdLife Species Factsheet
  • Drawing of black magpie