currawong

[prettygoodword]

currawong (KUHR-uh-wawng, KUHR-uh-wong) - n., any of three large, mainly black or gray, Australian passerine birds (genus Strepera).


The species being the grey, pied, and black currawongs. Omnivorous, territorial, and especially when black can be mistaken for the smaller magpie and the larger crow. Also sometimes called crow-shrikes and bell-magpies. The name is from an Indigenous Australian name for the pied currawong, onomatopoetic from its call, but exactly which language is unclear -- candidates include the Dharug name gurawaruŋ, Yagara garrawaŋ, Turrbal garrawaŋ, and Tharawal kurrawang/kurrawah. This handsome fellow is a black currawong (Strepera fuliginosa):


Thanks, WikiMedia!

---L.

Comments

[oracne]

That is indeed a very handsome bird.

[prettygoodword]

I think he even qualifies as a handsome birb.