Despite their crow-like appearance, these Australian birds are not related to ravens at all.

Nature · Published 3 October 2026 Swipe more like this →

In short: Currawongs are often mistaken for crows due to their dark plumage and size, but they belong to an entirely different evolutionary lineage. These clever, omnivorous birds occupy a unique ecological niche in Australia, acting as both scavengers and predators while occasionally forming surprisingly long-lasting, friendly relationships with human observers.

The currawong, a genus of three species native to Australia, has long been a subject of taxonomic confusion. Early ornithologists, including Richard Bowdler Sharpe, once classified them alongside crows and ravens in the family Corvidae because of their superficial resemblance. However, modern genetic analysis has corrected this view. Currawongs are actually members of the family Artamidae, placing them within the Afro-Asian superfamily Malaconotoidea. They are more closely related to butcherbirds and the Australian magpie than to any member of the Corvoidea superfamily.

The evolutionary history of these birds is tied to the expansion of open habitats in Australia between 30 and 25 million years ago. Their ancestors diverged from the lineage of butcherbirds and magpies between 17.3 and 9.8 million years ago. Today, the three recognized species—the grey, pied, and black currawong—are distinguished by their yellow eyes, hooked beaks, and undulating flight patterns. While they are omnivorous, their feeding habits are diverse; they forage in foliage, on tree trunks, and on the ground, consuming insects, fruit, and even the nestlings of other birds.

Currawongs are highly adaptable and often dominant in their environments. They are known to migrate into towns and cities during winter months, where they can become a nuisance in orchards or hen yards. Despite their sometimes aggressive behavior toward other species, they are capable of forming deep bonds with humans. One documented case involved a currawong visiting the same property in New South Wales for over eighteen years. Their name itself reflects this cultural integration, likely derived from onomatopoeic calls recorded in Indigenous languages like the Jagera or Dharug, marking them as a distinct and enduring feature of the Australian landscape.

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