Black jay
The Black currawong (Strepera fuliginosa) is a large crow-like passerine bird found only in Tasmania and the nearby islands within the Bass Strait. It is closely related to the butcherbirds and Australian magpie. The Black currawong spends more time foraging on the ground but roosts and breeds in trees.
Black currawongs are all black except for white patches at the tips of the wings and tail feathers. The bill and legs are black and the eyes are bright yellow. The white tips line the trailing edges of the wings in flight, and a paler arc across the bases of the primary flight feathers is also visible on the underwing. Although there is no seasonal variation to the plumage, the black may fade a little to a dark brown with wear. Immature birds have browner-tinged plumage, and a yellow gape until they are 2 years old. The male and female of this species are similar in appearance.
Black currawongs breed mainly in the Central Highlands, with scattered records elsewhere in Tasmania. They are found on many islands of Bass Strait, including the Hunter and Furneaux Groups. They are sedentary, although some populations at higher altitudes may move to lower altitudes during winter. Flocks have also been recorded making the 20 km (12 mi) long journey across the water from Maria Island to the mainland in the morning and returning at nightfall, as well as moving between islands in the Maatsuyker group. Black currawongs have expanded into the northeast corner of the island, to Musselroe Bay and Cape Portland. These birds prefer to live in wetter eucalypt forests. They also frequent the cool rainforest of the beach. In lowlands, they inhabit denser forests and moist gullies, and alpine scrubland and heathland at altitude. Black currawongs also visit cultivated, suburban, and urban areas.
Black currawongs prefer to spend time singly or in pairs but may gather into groups of 20-80 individuals. They are active during the day and often forage on the ground but also in tree canopies. They use their bills to probe the ground or turn over clods of earth or small rocks looking for food. Black currawongs also forage along the beach for fly larvae in beached kelp. Most commonly, they forage in pairs, but may also congregate in larger groups; flocks of 100 birds have been observed in orchards eating apples or rotten fruit. They may also gather in mixed-species flocks with Forest ravens, Silver gulls, White-faced herons, White-fronted chats, and European starlings. Black currawongs are loud and vocal birds and make a variety of calls. Their main call has been described as a combination of alternating 'kar' and 'wheek' sounds, 'killok killok', or even akin to a part song and part human laughter. Although often noisy when flying in flocks, they can be silent when seeking prey or thieving food. Before or around dawn and at nightfall appear to be periods of increased calling, and birds become more vocal before rain or storms. Parents also make a long fluting whistle to summon their chicks.
Black currawongs are omnivores. They feed on a wide variety of food including insects and small vertebrates, carrion, and berries.
Black currawongs are monogamous. They form pairs and strongly defend their breeding territory. These birds breed from August to December. They build a large cup-nest out of sticks, lined with softer material, and place it in the fork of a tree from 3 to 20 m (9.8 to 65.6 ft) high. Old nests are sometimes tidied up and reused in the following years. The female usually lays 2-4 pale grey-brown, purplish-buff, spotted, blotched red-brown or purplish-brown eggs. Incubation lasts for about 3 weeks. The chicks are born naked, and blind (altricial), and remain in the nest for an extended period (nidicolous). Both parents feed their young, but the male feeds them alone after leaving the nest and as they become more independent, and also moves from giving food directly to them to placing it on the ground near them so they learn to eat for themselves.
The Black currawong is not considered threatened at present. However, one of its subspecies, Strepera fuliginosa colei of King Island, has declined over much of its range on King Island, possibly due to clearing of its forest habitat.
According to the IUCN Red List, the Black currawong is common throughout its range but no overall population estimate is available. Currently, this species is classified as Least Concern (LC) on the IUCN Red List and its numbers today are stable.
