Currawongs and leaf litter

["Philip Veerman" <>]

Yes indeed. I would add that the Grey Currawong usually is fairly solitary or in pairs. So 7 together would be unusual and certainly suggestive of the Pied Currawong. The foraging through curls and sheets of bark is typical of the Grey Currawong but of course the Pied does it too. The beak shape is also different, much slimmer in the Grey Currawong. The mostly grey plumage is also a clue but that is variable and young PC are not as black as the adults.

 

 

Philip Veerman

24 Castley Circuit

Kambah  ACT  2902

 

02 - 62314041

-----Original Message-----
From: Anthony Overs [
Sent: Friday, 10 July 2009 9:34 PM
To: canberrabirds
Subject: Re: [canberrabirds] Currawongs and leaf litter

Paul, the key difference in plumage is the
rump. Pieds have white coverts on the undertail and uppertail. Greys have white
undertail coverts, but an all grey rump, which you can pick reasonably easily.
The best way to pick them apart is by call, the Grey has a very distinct 
clinking call.

Anthony

2009/7/10 Paul T. <>

At 06:40 PM 10/07/2009, you wrote:

Hi Paul
 
Did you notice the species of Currawong search through bark?
 
It is typical of Grey Currawongs.
Sometimes they tear large sheets of bark off trees, near ground level, and then search for spiders and insects.

Denis,

It was not the jet black of many of the Currawongs that we get here-abouts, but my recollection is that the main way to tell the difference between the grey and the pied is the wing markings when in flight?  I think I recall that being shown on a Wednesday Walk last year, but I can't recall the details now.  I don't know what variety of Currawongs we get here in Higgins, just that we presently get up to 7 of them harrassing things in my garden at the moment. <sigh>  I usually try to scare them off so that other birds can utilise the various water sources instead.

Cheers.

Paul T.
Canberra, Australia - USDA Zone Equivalent approx. 8/9

Growing an eclectic collection of plants from all over the world including Aroids, Crocus, Cyclamen, Erythroniums, Fritillarias, Galanthus, Irises, Trilliums (to name but a few) and just about anything else that doesn't move!!

******************************************************************************************************* This is the email announcement and discussion list of the Canberra Ornithologists Group. List-Post: List-Help: List-Unsubscribe: List-Subscribe: List archive: List manager: David McDonald, email