Black Currawong
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 Black Currawong, Tasmania
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| Stepera fuliginosa Gould, 1837 |
The Black Currawong, Strepera fuliginosa also known locally as the Black Jay is a medium-sized omnivorous songbird native to Australia. It is about 45 cm long and has all black plumage except for a small white patch in the wing and a white-tipped tail.
The Black Currawong is confined and endemic to temperate forests of Tasmania and two islands in Bass Strait. It can become very tame, much like its close relative, the Pied Currawong on the Australian mainland.
Like all currawongs, it builds a large cup-nest out of sticks, lined with softer material, and placed in a tall tree.
Currawongs feed on small birds imparticular, and in many areas urbanisation has led to boosting currawong numbers, therefore annihilating small bird populations. This has been a concern in some Australian cities.
There are three subspecies of the Black Currawong. The nominate form Strepera fuliginosa fuliginosa of Tasmania, Strepera fuliginosa parvior of Flinders Island and Strepera fuliginosa colei of King Island.
The Black Currawong is evaluated as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. One of its subspecies, Strepera fuliginosa colei of King Island is Vulnerable to extinction.[1]
[edit] References
- BirdLife International (2004). Strepera fuliginosa. 2006 IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. IUCN 2006. Retrieved on 9 December 2006. Database entry includes justification for why this species is of least concern
