Grey Currawong

Strepera versicolor(Latham, 1801)

Updated 11 June 2026

Native

Order: PASSERIFORMES
Family: Artamidae
Genus: Strepera

At a glance

The Grey Currawong is a large bird, about 44–57 cm long, native to Australia. It can be seen year-round.

Size: 44–57 cm
Origin: Native
Best seen: Year-round
Commonness: Very common

01 · Identification

How to tell it apart

What does a Grey Currawong look like?

The Grey Currawong is a large bird, about 44–57 cm long and weighing 300–515 g.

The grey currawong is a large passerine bird native to southern Australia, including Tasmania. One of three currawong species in the genus Strepera, it is closely related to the butcherbirds and Australian magpie of the family Artamidae. It is a large crow-like bird, around 48 cm (19 in) long on average; with yellow irises, a heavy bill, dark plumage with white undertail and wing patches. The male and female are similar in appearance. Six subspecies are recognised and are distinguished by overall plumage colour, which ranges from slate-grey for the nominate from New South Wales and eastern Victoria and subspecies plumbea from Western Australia, to sooty black for the clinking currawong of Tasmania and subspecies halmaturina from Kangaroo Island. All grey currawongs have a loud distinctive ringing or clinking call.

Description · wikipedia · CC BY-SA 4.0

03 · When

When to look

When can you see a Grey Currawong?

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

04 · Voice

What it sounds like

Call

John Cull · Heathmont VIC 3135, Australia

Call

Melvin Xu · Ocumup Rd, Bremer Bay, WA, AU

Call

Rosalie Lawrence · Williamstown SA 5351, Australia

Call

graeme lunt · Lal Lal VIC 3352, Australia

05 · Behaviour

Habits and haunts

What does a Grey Currawong eat?

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

06 · Gallery

Plumage up close

4 photos

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