currawong

currawong
/kur"euh wawng', -wong'/, n.
any of several large black-and-white passerine birds of the genus Strepera, of Australia, having a resounding bell-like voice.
[1925-30; < Dharuk gu-ra-wa-run]

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bird
also called  piping-crow , or  crow-shrike 
 any of several songbirds of the Australian family Cracticidae (order Passeriformes). They are large, up to 50 centimetres (20 inches) long, with black, gray, or black-and-white plumage and yellow eyes. All have resounding, metallic voices. Found in woodlands and occasionally flocking into suburban areas, currawongs live on fruit, insects, small animals, and other birds' eggs and young: they may be a nuisance in orchards and hen yards. The pied currawong, or chillawong (Strepera graculina) makes rolling sounds; the gray currawong (S. versicolor), also called squeaker, or rainbird, makes clanking noises.

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Universalium. 2010.

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Look at other dictionaries:

  • currawong — cur ra*wong (k[^u]r [.a]*w[o^]ng), n. any of several bluish black fruit eating birds of Australia of the genus {Strepera} having a bell like call. Syn: bell magpie. [WordNet 1.5 +PJC] …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Currawong — This article is about the bird genus. For the Sydney beach, see Currawong Beach, New South Wales. For the Melbourne park, see Currawong Bush Park. Currawong Black Currawong, Fortesque Bay, Tasman Peninsula …   Wikipedia

  • Currawong Beach, New South Wales — Currawong Beach Sydney, New South Wales Currawong Beach Established …   Wikipedia

  • Currawong Bush Park — This article is about the Melbourne park. For the bird genus, see Currawong. Currawong Bush Park Millers Pond in Currawong Bush Park …   Wikipedia

  • currawong — noun /ˈkʌɹəwɒŋ/ Any of the three species, and several subspecies, of large, mainly black, predatory passerine birds in the genus Strepera, of the family Artamidae, endemic to Australia. Currawongs and cookaburras woke him early …   Wiktionary

  • currawong — [ kʌrəwɒŋ] noun a crow like Australian songbird with mainly black or grey plumage, a robust straight bill, and a resonant call. [Genus Strepera: three species.] Origin 1920s: from an Aborig. word …   English new terms dictionary

  • currawong — cur·ra·wong …   English syllables

  • currawong — I. /ˈkʌrəwɒŋ / (say kuruhwong) noun any of several large black and white or greyish endemic Australian birds of the genus Strepera, with solid bodies, large pointed bills, yellow eyes, and loud, ringing calls; bell magpie. Also, Coastal Qld,… …  

  • currawong — n. Austral. any crowlike songbird of the genus Strepera, possessing a resonant call. Etymology: Aboriginal …   Useful english dictionary

  • Grey Currawong — Subspecies versicolor, Canberra Conservation status …   Wikipedia

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