currawong

[ kuhr-uh-wawng, -wong ]

noun

1. any of several large black-and-white passerine birds of the genus Strepera, of Australia, having a resounding bell-like voice.

currawong

/ ˈkʌrəˌwɒŋ /

noun

1. any Australian crowlike songbird of the genus Strepera, having black, grey, and white plumage: family Cracticidae Also calledbell magpie

Word History and Origins

Origin of currawong¹

First recorded in 1925–30, currawong is from the Dharuk word gu-ra-wa-ruŋ

Word History and Origins

Origin of currawong¹

from a native Australian name

Example Sentences

To explore how this sophisticated ruse works, biologist Branislav Igic, then at the Australian National University, and his colleagues positioned a taxidermied currawong near thornbill nests while broadcasting nestling distress calls.

From Scientific American

At a fraction the size of a currawong, the diminutive songbird can't rely on its might to spook the nest-raiding bandits.

From Science Magazine

According to the research team, the grasswren and currawong probably disappeared early in the 20th century.

From Scientific American

When a pied currawong goes looking for brown thornbill nestlings to eat, the thornbill parents call wolf—or, actually, they call hawk.

From Scientific American

The false alarms fool the currawong into thinking that its own predator, the brown goshawk, is nearby.

From Scientific American