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Blurb

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Subspecies versicolor
Subspecies versicolor

The grey currawong (Strepera versicolor) is a large passerine bird native to southern Australia, including Tasmania. One of three currawong species, it is a large crow-like bird, around 48 cm (19 in) long, with yellow irises, a heavy bill, and dark plumage, with a white undertail and wing patches. The male and female are similar in appearance. The six subspecies are distinguished by their overall plumage shade. They have a distinctive loud ringing or clinking call. The currawong is generally sedentary, although it is a winter visitor in south-easternmost Australia. Much of its behaviour and habits is poorly known. It is a ground-foraging omnivore and builds its nests high in trees. It is found in forests and scrubland in dryer regions. Unlike its more common relatives, it has adapted poorly to human impact, and has declined in much of its range.(Full article...)

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Many of these are quite esoteric/minor and have not been referenced in the main compendium of Higgins/HANZAB for some reason. Some are quite tricky to get a hold of but are nonetheless intriguing. I am chasing the white/albino ones and see what I can do for each, either explain why unneeded or add in. Casliber (talk · contribs) 12:56, 6 May 2010 (UTC)[reply]
  • Title: Identification of nest predators with remote cameras and artificial nests in extensive old-growth woodland of southwestern Australia
Author(s): Fulton, Graham R.
Source: Corella Volume: 30 Issue: 2 Pages: 35-39 Published: JUN 2006
  • Title: Do grey currawongs eat carrion?
Author(s): Fulton, Graham R.
Source: Australian Field Ornithology Volume: 23 Issue: 1 Pages: 48-49 Published: March 2006
I think that is referenced within "Road ecology from a road-side assemblage of forest birds in south-western Australia" by the same author with some other people Casliber (talk · contribs) 04:06, 4 May 2010 (UTC)[reply]
  • Title: Satin bowerbird Ptilonorhynchus violaceus and grey currawong Strepera versicolor eating feijoa Acca sellowiana petals.
Author(s): Conole, Lawrence E.
Source: Australian Field Ornithology Volume: 21 Issue: 3 Pages: 121-124 Published: September 2004
  • Title: Grey currawongs Strepera versicolor in Newtown, Geelong.
Author(s): Morley, Craig G.
Source: Geelong Bird Report Volume: 1998 Pages: 53-56 Published: 1999
  • Title: White phase of the grey currawong?
Author(s): Whiteford, Ross
Source: Bird Observer (Nunawading) Volume: 757 Pages: 15 Published: October 1995
  • Title: Currawong feeding.
Author(s): Hooper, Nicolette
Source: Bird Observer (Nunawading) Volume: 748 Pages: 5 Published: December 1994
  • Title: Grey currawong Strepera versicolor employs the 'Zirkeln' method in searching for food.
Author(s): Kloot, Tess
Source: Australian Bird Watcher Volume: 15 Issue: 4 Pages: 160-161 Published: December 1993
added Casliber (talk · contribs) 12:49, 5 May 2010 (UTC)[reply]
  • Title: Albino grey currawong.
Author(s): Wall, L.
Source: Tasmanian Naturalist Pages: 11 Published: 1989
  • Title: Feeding behaviour of grey currawong (Strepera versicolor).
Author(s): Hussey, P.
Source: Western Australian Naturalist Volume: 17 Issue: 8 Pages: 233 Published: 1989
done Casliber (talk · contribs) 12:52, 5 May 2010 (UTC)[reply]
  • Title: MENACANTHUS-DENNISI (MALLOPHAGA, MENOPONIDAE), A NEW SPECIES FROM THE GREY CURRAWONG (PASSERIFORMES, CRACTICIDAE) IN SOUTH-AUSTRALIA
Author(s): PRICE, RD; EMERSON, KC
Source: FLORIDA ENTOMOLOGIST Volume: 71 Issue: 2 Pages: 202-204 Published: JUN 1988
done - note to self - must always check bird articles for lice in future... Casliber (talk · contribs) 12:26, 5 May 2010 (UTC)[reply]
  • Title: The grey currawong as a vector for broadcasting African boneseed.
Author(s): King, D.
Source: Geelong Naturalist Volume: 24 Issue: 3 Pages: 80 Published: 1987
Couldn't find but comprehensive secondary source mentions it as do some other primaries - relevant info discovered and added - naughty birds. Casliber (talk · contribs) 13:22, 5 May 2010 (UTC)[reply]
  • Title: THE GENUS MICROTETRAMERES NEMATODA SPIRURIDA IN AUSTRALIAN BIRDS
Author(s): MAWSON P M
Source: Records of the South Australian Museum (Adelaide) Volume: 17 Issue: 14 Pages: 239-259 Published: 1977
done Casliber (talk · contribs) 09:57, 13 May 2010 (UTC)[reply]
  • Title: BLACK-WINGED CURRAWONG STREPERA-VERSICOLOR-MELANOPTERA
Author(s): BRAHAM A G
Source: South Australian Naturalist Volume: 47 Issue: 2 Pages: 20 Published: 1972
Couldn't find but is a one page article, which for some reason is not mentioned at all in Higgins, so I suspect there is little in it to add. Casliber (talk · contribs) 13:37, 5 May 2010 (UTC)[reply]
  • Title: Some notes on nest-building of three Birds, Gymnorhina hypoleuca, G. tibicen, and Strepera versicolor.
Author(s): Favaloro, N. J.
Source: Emu Melbourne Volume: 30 Pages: pp. 105-109 Published: 1930
This and many other refs are used in Higgins. I have not seen this one as such. Will take alook on friday but I think all info in it is covered by article. Casliber (talk · contribs) 13:37, 5 May 2010 (UTC)[reply]
inserted it, but am unable to find an online source for it. Casliber (talk · contribs) 14:02, 15 May 2010 (UTC)[reply]
Is this it? Sasata (talk) 16:06, 15 May 2010 (UTC)[reply]
Indeed it is...cool. Casliber (talk · contribs) 22:37, 15 May 2010 (UTC)[reply]
  • translation for Wati-eri?
Unknown and not given in the source. Sorry. Would love to add. Casliber (talk · contribs) 06:25, 14 May 2010 (UTC)[reply]
Check this out Sasata (talk) 06:39, 14 May 2010 (UTC)[reply]
Nice one. Added Casliber (talk · contribs) 12:46, 14 May 2010 (UTC)[reply]
  • how about translations for all the Latin subspecies names? I'd be interested in knowing that info
done Casliber (talk · contribs) 14:02, 15 May 2010 (UTC)[reply]
  • how about links for the locales mentioned in the subspecies ranges? I certainly have no idea where places like Grampians Inland, the ACT, the Eyre Peninsula or the Great Australian Bight are (to mention just a few).
I got a bunch of them. Casliber (talk · contribs) 06:33, 14 May 2010 (UTC)[reply]
  • How about a more detailed distribution map with different colors/shades for the different subspecies? It would make it easier for someone like me to make more sense of the list of unfamiliar place names.
I have never seen one in any source. However, I will read the subspecies descriptions in Higgins and see if I can make one. Most subspecies will be easy, just some fo the border areas might be tricky. done Casliber (talk · contribs) 06:25, 14 May 2010 (UTC)[reply]
Excellent! Any chance of moving the color code boxes in the legend so that they nicely line up vertically? (Could probably remove the semicolons too) Sasata (talk) 16:06, 15 May 2010 (UTC)[reply]
I tried jigging it a bit without success. I will ask some other folks. Casliber (talk · contribs) 22:45, 15 May 2010 (UTC)[reply]
I fiddled by adding some non-breaking spaces, looks good enough to me. Sasata (talk) 05:13, 16 May 2010 (UTC)[reply]
  • "Mathews had designated central Australian birds as a subspecies centralia, but most consider them as part of plumbea, as very little is known." Most what? Ornitholigists? Sounds slightly weaselly as written.
tried rewording. Casliber (talk · contribs) 14:02, 15 May 2010 (UTC)[reply]
  • Can't those 3 images be arranged more attractively than simply lined up one after another under the range map?
moved Casliber (talk · contribs) 14:02, 15 May 2010 (UTC)[reply]
  • "Race plumbea has a thicker and more downcurved bill than other races." This caption calls the bird a race, whereas the text calls it a subspecies… which is it?
Unlike with plants, the terms are interchangeable, but I agree it is confusing, so rejigged Casliber (talk · contribs) 06:25, 14 May 2010 (UTC)[reply]
  • "The Tasmanian subspecies averages around 440 g (16 oz)." Is it assumed that these are all measurements from fully grown adults?
Yes. noted Casliber (talk · contribs) 06:25, 14 May 2010 (UTC)[reply]
  • link hackle (or explain… that target article is pretty weak), moult
linked. More target articles to improve... Casliber (talk · contribs) 12:46, 14 May 2010 (UTC)[reply]
  • "Juvenile birds have less distinct plumage and more prominent brown coloration." I don't understand why the plumage is less distinct… if it is prominently brown, isn't that distinctly different than an adult?
I think it is less tidy overall. Hard to explain with birds unless you see alot. I will re-read and think of a rephrase. Casliber (talk · contribs) 12:46, 14 May 2010 (UTC)[reply]
more like this "Juvenile birds have more brown-tinged and uniform plumage; the darker colour around the lores and eyes are less distinct" Casliber (talk · contribs) 23:15, 15 May 2010 (UTC)[reply]
  • If I am understanding the description correctly, the juvenile starts out with a yellow gape, which becomes greyish black to black as they get older?
Yes. Casliber (talk · contribs) 06:25, 14 May 2010 (UTC)[reply]
  • "Unlike that of its cousin the Pied Currawong," the intro sentence of the last section called the Pied a "common relative", so I don't think the article needs to remind us again of their familial closeness
removed Casliber (talk · contribs) 06:25, 14 May 2010 (UTC)[reply]
  • "It is best known for making a sound variously transcribed as p'rink, clink, cling, ker-link or tullock as it flies or gathered in any numbers." grammar wrong
Rejigged. Casliber (talk · contribs) 06:25, 14 May 2010 (UTC)[reply]
, either in flight or when gathered in any numbers. - this last bit is a subordinate clause so not sure if you still have a problem with the grammar Casliber (talk · contribs) 23:18, 15 May 2010 (UTC)[reply]
  • "Ashby wrote that it was akin to the squeaking of a wheelbarrow in Tasmania" 1) who's Ashby? 2) the way its written makes me think that Tasmanian wheelbarrows make a kling sound (in contrast to other Australian wheelbarrows)
linked to Edwin Ashby and Rejigged. Casliber (talk · contribs) 06:25, 14 May 2010 (UTC)[reply]
  • I don't suppose there are any sound files to provide examples of these intriguing bird noises?
I wish... Casliber (talk · contribs) 14:02, 15 May 2010 (UTC)[reply]
  • link/clarify Malle scrubland, habitat destruction, territoriality
linked Casliber (talk · contribs) 06:33, 14 May 2010 (UTC)[reply]
  • the first sentence of "Feeding" is very long. As is the first sentence of the second paragraph in that section.
split both Casliber (talk · contribs) 03:56, 15 May 2010 (UTC)[reply]
  • link vector, invasive species
linked Casliber (talk · contribs) 03:56, 15 May 2010 (UTC)[reply]
  • "…and one observer noted that the normally noisy birds became quiet and sluggish when eating it…" don't most birds become quiet when they have food in their mouths? Or do they become quiet after they eat it?
hah, good point. fixed. Casliber (talk · contribs) 06:25, 14 May 2010 (UTC)[reply]
  • "…generally eucalypts are chosen." should be linked at first occurrence in previous paragraph
done. Casliber (talk · contribs) 06:25, 14 May 2010 (UTC)[reply]
  • "…and are marked with streaks or splotches of darker brownish, purplish-brown, slate-grey or even bluish." I think the "ishes" need to be removed to make this grammatically correct (unless there's a word missing at the end of the sentence?)
I removed the ishes. Casliber (talk · contribs) 13:04, 14 May 2010 (UTC)[reply]
  • I asked Ucucha to link buff for a rat article, so it would be inconsistent for me not to do the same here
linked Casliber (talk · contribs) 13:04, 14 May 2010 (UTC)[reply]
  • How's this for nitpicky: the period in et al. should not be italicized!
Yes I agree that is nitpicky. I guess it makes the circular period an unpleasant distorted oval shape. Casliber (talk · contribs) 06:25, 14 May 2010 (UTC)[reply]
  • tweak author format: compare Sibley CG, Ahlquist JE (1985) vs. Sharland, M. S. R. (1925); check refs throughout for others as well
duly tweaked Casliber (talk · contribs) 14:10, 15 May 2010 (UTC)[reply]
  • ref #32 article title in capitals is inconsistent with others
capitalised others Casliber (talk · contribs) 14:10, 15 May 2010 (UTC)[reply]
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