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| − | [[Image:P4258663.jpg|thumb|550px|right|Photo by {{user|IanC|IanC}}<br />Buladelah, NSW, [[Australia]], April 2007]] | + | [[Image:P4258663.jpg|thumb|550px|right|Photo © by {{user|IanC|IanC}}<br />Buladelah, NSW, [[Australia]], April 2007]] |
'''Alternative names: Black Jay; Black Magpie''' | '''Alternative names: Black Jay; Black Magpie''' | ||
;[[: Category:Corcorax|Corcorax]] melanorhamphos | ;[[: Category:Corcorax|Corcorax]] melanorhamphos | ||
==Identification== | ==Identification== | ||
| − | 44-50 cm | + | [[Image:White Winged-Chough by Nora.jpg|thumb|350px|right|Photo © by {{user|Nora|Nora}}<br />Toolern Vale, Melbourne, [[Australia]], October 2007]] |
| + | 44-50 cm (17¼-19¾ in) | ||
* Downward curved bill | * Downward curved bill | ||
* Eye orange, deep pink outer ring | * Eye orange, deep pink outer ring | ||
* Large white wing patches divided by black lines at edge of flight feathers. | * Large white wing patches divided by black lines at edge of flight feathers. | ||
| − | * Long, completely black tail that | + | * Long, completely black tail that separates it from similar species. |
* White wing hidden when on ground, though, white lines may be seen when wing is drooped | * White wing hidden when on ground, though, white lines may be seen when wing is drooped | ||
Sexes similar. Juveniles have a dark eye and a brownish plumage. | Sexes similar. Juveniles have a dark eye and a brownish plumage. | ||
| − | + | ||
====Similar Species==== | ====Similar Species==== | ||
Looks somewhat similar to, but has no family relationship with, the other two Choughs ([[Red-billed Chough]] and [[Yellow-billed Chough]]). | Looks somewhat similar to, but has no family relationship with, the other two Choughs ([[Red-billed Chough]] and [[Yellow-billed Chough]]). | ||
| Line 17: | Line 18: | ||
Widespread but not common. | Widespread but not common. | ||
==Taxonomy== | ==Taxonomy== | ||
| + | The different authorities don't agree on the spelling of ''melanor'''h'''amphos'' / ''melanoramphos''. | ||
| + | ====Subspecies==== | ||
Two subspecies are recognized: | Two subspecies are recognized: | ||
* ''C. m. melanorhamphos'' in eastern [[Australia]] (from eastern half of [[Queensland]] south to [[New South Wales]], [[Victoria]] and southeast [[South Australia]]) | * ''C. m. melanorhamphos'' in eastern [[Australia]] (from eastern half of [[Queensland]] south to [[New South Wales]], [[Victoria]] and southeast [[South Australia]]) | ||
* ''C. m. whiteae'' in south and southeast [[Australia]] (Eyre Peninsula and Mt Lofty Ranges) | * ''C. m. whiteae'' in south and southeast [[Australia]] (Eyre Peninsula and Mt Lofty Ranges) | ||
| − | There are only slight differences in these two subspecies and ''whiteae'' is not always accepted | + | |
| + | There are only slight differences in these two subspecies and ''whiteae'' is not always accepted. | ||
==Habitat== | ==Habitat== | ||
Dry woodland and mallee. Also found in plantations of exotic pines, well-wooded farmland and suburban areas with parks and large gardens. | Dry woodland and mallee. Also found in plantations of exotic pines, well-wooded farmland and suburban areas with parks and large gardens. | ||
| Line 33: | Line 37: | ||
Contact and alarm calls<br />Recorded by {{user|Azzy|Azzy}} near Para Wirra Recreation Park, South Australia. 8th April 2010. | Contact and alarm calls<br />Recorded by {{user|Azzy|Azzy}} near Para Wirra Recreation Park, South Australia. 8th April 2010. | ||
==References== | ==References== | ||
| − | #{{Ref- | + | #{{Ref-Clements6thAug18}}#{{Ref-HBWVol14}}#{{Ref-Simpson98}} |
{{ref}} | {{ref}} | ||
==External Links== | ==External Links== | ||
| − | {{GSearch|Corcorax+ | + | {{GSearch|Corcorax+melanor}} |
| + | |||
[[Category:Birds]] [[Category:Corcorax]] [[Category:Bird Songs]] | [[Category:Birds]] [[Category:Corcorax]] [[Category:Bird Songs]] | ||
Revision as of 23:20, 23 December 2018
Alternative names: Black Jay; Black Magpie
- Corcorax melanorhamphos
Identification
44-50 cm (17¼-19¾ in)
- Downward curved bill
- Eye orange, deep pink outer ring
- Large white wing patches divided by black lines at edge of flight feathers.
- Long, completely black tail that separates it from similar species.
- White wing hidden when on ground, though, white lines may be seen when wing is drooped
Sexes similar. Juveniles have a dark eye and a brownish plumage.
Similar Species
Looks somewhat similar to, but has no family relationship with, the other two Choughs (Red-billed Chough and Yellow-billed Chough).
Distribution
East and south Australia.
Widespread but not common.
Taxonomy
The different authorities don't agree on the spelling of melanorhamphos / melanoramphos.
Subspecies
Two subspecies are recognized:
- C. m. melanorhamphos in eastern Australia (from eastern half of Queensland south to New South Wales, Victoria and southeast South Australia)
- C. m. whiteae in south and southeast Australia (Eyre Peninsula and Mt Lofty Ranges)
There are only slight differences in these two subspecies and whiteae is not always accepted.
Habitat
Dry woodland and mallee. Also found in plantations of exotic pines, well-wooded farmland and suburban areas with parks and large gardens.
Behaviour
Feeds on a wide range of insects and seeds. Forages mainly on the ground in big groups, digging with its bill and turning over and raking through leaf litter.
Has been recorded chasing mice from under grass tussocks, grabbing them by the neck and beating them against the ground before consuming them.
Breeding season in austral spring and early summer from September to December. A co-operative breeder with up to 18 helpers for a pair. The nest is a large bowl made of mud. It's placed 2.5 to 20m above the ground on a tree. Lays 3 - 5 eggs.
A sedentary species, wandering over a large home range outside breeding season.
Vocalisation
<flashmp3> White-winged Choughs.mp3</flashmp3>
Listen in an external program
Contact and alarm calls
Recorded by Azzy near Para Wirra Recreation Park, South Australia. 8th April 2010.
References
- Clements, J. F., T. S. Schulenberg, M. J. Iliff, D. Roberson, T. A. Fredericks, B. L. Sullivan, and C. L. Wood. 2018. The eBird/Clements checklist of birds of the world: v2018. Downloaded from http://www.birds.cornell.edu/clementschecklist/download/
- Del Hoyo, J, A Elliott, and D Christie, eds. 2009. Handbook of the Birds of the World. Volume 14: Bush-shrikes to Old World Sparrows. Barcelona: Lynx Edicions. ISBN 978-8496553507
- Simpson, K and N Day. 1998. Field Guide to the Birds of Australia. London: Christopher Helm. ISBN 0-7136-4877-5
Recommended Citation
- BirdForum Opus contributors. (2024) White-winged Chough. In: BirdForum, the forum for wild birds and birding. Retrieved 24 April 2024 from https://www.birdforum.net/opus/White-winged_Chough
