Black Currawong

Strepera fuliginosa(Gould, 1837)

Updated 11 June 2026

Least ConcernEndemic

Order: PASSERIFORMES
Family: Artamidae
Genus: Strepera

At a glance

The Black Currawong is a large bird, about 50 cm long, listed as Least Concern and endemic to Australia. It can be seen year-round.

Size: 50 cm
Conservation status: Least Concern
Origin: Endemic
Best seen: Year-round
Commonness: Endemic

01 · Identification

How to tell it apart

What does a Black Currawong look like?

The Black Currawong is a large bird, about 50 cm long and weighing 280–457 g.

The black currawong, 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 50 cm (20 in) 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.

Description · wikipedia · CC BY-SA 4.0

03 · When

When to look

When can you see a Black Currawong?

The Black Currawong is present across its Australian range year-round, so it can be seen in any month.

04 · Voice

What it sounds like

Call

cassi saari · Middlesex TAS 7306, Australia

Call

jstarspots · Tasmania, Springfield, TAS, AU

Call

jstarspots · Tasmania, Springfield, TAS, AU

Call

jstarspots · Arthur-Pieman Conservation Area, Arthur River, TAS, AU

05 · Behaviour

Habits and haunts

What does a Black Currawong eat?

The Black Currawong feeds on fruit, terrestrial invertebrates, terrestrial vertebrates and intertidal invertebrates, usually foraging in pairs or flocks or alone.

06 · Gallery

Plumage up close

2 photos

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