The Lord Howe currawong (''Strepera graculina crissalis''), Lord Howe Island currawong or Lord Howe pied currawong, is a large and mainly black

passerine A passerine () is any bird of the order Passeriformes (; from Latin 'sparrow' and '-shaped'), which includes more than half of all bird species. Sometimes known as perching birds, passerines are distinguished from other orders of birds by th ...

bird in the family Artamidae. It is

endemic Endemism is the state of a species being found in a single defined geographic location, such as an island, state, nation, country or other defined zone; organisms that are indigenous to a place are not endemic to it if they are also found else ...

Lord Howe Island Lord Howe Island (; formerly Lord Howe's Island) is an irregularly crescent-shaped volcanic remnant in the Tasman Sea between Australia and New Zealand, part of the Australian state of New South Wales. It lies directly east of mainland P ...

in the

Tasman Sea The Tasman Sea ( Māori: ''Te Tai-o-Rēhua'', ) is a marginal sea of the South Pacific Ocean, situated between Australia and New Zealand. It measures about across and about from north to south. The sea was named after the Dutch explorer ...

, part of

New South Wales ) , nickname = , image_map = New South Wales in Australia.svg , map_caption = Location of New South Wales in AustraliaCoordinates: , subdivision_type = Country , subdivision_name = Australia , established_title = Before federation , es ...

, Australia, and is a

threatened Threatened species are any species (including animals, plants and fungi) which are vulnerable to endangerment in the near future. Species that are threatened are sometimes characterised by the population dynamics measure of ''critical depensa ...

subspecies of the

pied currawong The pied currawong (''Strepera graculina'') is a black passerine bird native to eastern Australia and Lord Howe Island. One of three currawong species in the genus ''Strepera'', it is closely related to the butcherbirds and Australian magpie of ...

Description

The currawong is similar to the other subspecies of the pied currawong. It is generally a black bird with yellow eyes, white on the wing, undertail coverts, the base of the tail and tip of the tail. Compared with the nominate subspecies of eastern Australia it has a longer and more slender bill, less white on the wings and tail, and a paler iris. StreperaCrisalisKeulemans

Distribution and habitat

The currawong is restricted to the Lord Howe Island group where it inhabits the main island's native subtropical rainforest and

palm Palm most commonly refers to: * Palm of the hand, the central region of the front of the hand * Palm plants, of family Arecaceae **List of Arecaceae genera * Several other plants known as "palm" Palm or Palms may also refer to: Music * Palm (ba ...

forest A forest is an area of land dominated by trees. Hundreds of definitions of forest are used throughout the world, incorporating factors such as tree density, tree height, land use, legal standing, and ecological function. The United Nations' ...

, especially along creeks and in gullies, as well as areas around human habitation.

Behaviour

The Lord Howe currawong has a strong sense of curiosity, often following walkers on the island's tracks. They are aggressive during the breeding season and will swoop at walkers who approach their nests.

Feeding

The currawong is a

predator Predation is a biological interaction where one organism, the predator, kills and eats another organism, its prey. It is one of a family of common feeding behaviours that includes parasitism and micropredation (which usually do not kill th ...

and an omnivore. The birds forage widely throughout the island and offshore

seabird colonies Seabirds (also known as marine birds) are birds that are adapted to life within the marine environment. While seabirds vary greatly in lifestyle, behaviour and physiology, they often exhibit striking convergent evolution, as the same enviro ...

. They take small birds and the young of many birds, including domestic poultry, as well as seeds and fruits.

Breeding

The currawong breeds in territories in the forest that contain a section of gully or watercourse lined with tall timber. It has been estimated that the island is large enough to contain 35-40 territories. The bird builds a cup-shaped nest of sticks and twigs, lined with finer twigs, in the outer branches of a tree, in which it lays a clutch of three light brown eggs, marked with darker blotches. The incubation period is 21 days and the time from hatching to fledging about 30.

Voice

The currawong has a distinct loud and melodious call.

Status and conservation

In 2000 the population was estimated to comprise about 80 mature breeding birds. The taxon is listed as Vulnerable under Australia's

EPBC Act The ''Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999'' (Cth) is an Act of the Parliament of Australia that provides a framework for protection of the Australian environment, including its biodiversity and its natural and cultu ...

because of its small and restricted population and occasional persecution due to its predatory habits.Garnett & Crowley, p.574.

Notes

References

* Garnett, Stephen T.; & Crowley, Gabriel M. (2000). ''The Action Plan for Australian Birds 2000''. Environment Australia: Canberra.

* Higgins, P.J.; Peter, J.M.; & Cowling, S.J. (eds). 2006. ''Handbook of Australian, New Zealand and Antarctic Birds. Volume 7: Boatbill to Starlings''. Oxford University Press: Melbourne. * Hindwood, K.A. (1940). The Birds of Lord Howe Island. ''Emu'' 40: 1-86. * Hutton, Ian. (1991). ''Birds of Lord Howe Island - Past and Present''. Author: Coffs Harbour. * Richard Schodde, Schodde, R.; & Mason, I.J. (1999). ''The Directory of Australian Birds: Passerines''. CSIRO Publishing: Melbourne.

External links

Australian Government, Dept of the Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts: ''Strepera graculina crissalis''
{{Taxonbar, from=Q6679391 Strepera Birds of Lord Howe Island Birds described in 1877