
Ah, corvid family birds! These feathery creatures are as fascinating as they are intelligent. Found all over the world, they are known for their cunning and intelligence, and are some of the most impressive birds out there. But today, we’re going to focus on those endemic to northern NSW Australia. Get ready for a fun and informative ride!
First up, let’s start with a quick refresher on what the corvid family actually is. Corvids are a group of birds that includes crows, ravens, magpies, and jays. These birds are highly intelligent and are known for their problem-solving abilities, which is why they are often the subject of many scientific studies.
Now, let’s dive into the corvid family birds found in northern NSW Australia. The first bird that comes to mind is the Australian Raven. These majestic birds are commonly found in urban and rural areas, and are known for their impressive vocalizations. They are also known for their opportunistic feeding habits, and will eat just about anything they can get their beaks on. So, if you’re enjoying a nice picnic in the park, watch out for these sneaky birds!
Next up, we have the Torresian Crow. This bird is endemic to the northern regions of Australia, and is easily recognized by its glossy black feathers and bright blue eyes. These birds are known for their intelligence and are often seen using tools to obtain food. In fact, a recent study found that Torresian Crows are the only non-primate species to make tools in the wild. So, if you ever see one of these birds with a stick in its beak, you know it’s up to something.
Moving on, we have the Australian Magpie. This bird is a common sight in parks and gardens throughout northern NSW, and is known for its striking black and white plumage. Australian Magpies are highly territorial and will defend their nesting areas aggressively, so be careful not to get too close! But despite their aggressive nature, these birds are also incredibly intelligent and have been known to form close relationships with humans who regularly feed them.
Finally, we have the Pied Currawong. This bird is found throughout eastern and southeastern Australia, including northern NSW. It is a large and noisy bird with a distinctive call that can be heard from a distance. Pied Currawongs are known for their opportunistic feeding habits and will eat just about anything, including insects, fruits, and small mammals. These birds are also highly adaptable and can be found in a wide range of habitats, from forests to urban areas.
So, there you have it! These are just a few of the corvid family birds found in northern NSW Australia. As you can see, these birds are highly intelligent and adaptable, and are an important part of the local ecosystem. But they’re also a lot of fun to observe and interact with, so if you’re ever in the area, be sure to keep an eye out for these amazing birds. And remember, if you’re having a picnic, keep an eye on your food – those Australian Ravens are sneaky!
Amazing creatures. Thanks for such an interesting article! I had no idea that there were such Australian variations. We continue to enjoy the antics of local rooks and ravens on the croft here on Skye.
They are such characters. I do love corvids. We raised a currawong named Pew once, he was the smartest bird I have ever met. There was also a Butcher bird named Roadie, also smart and sassy.
Fabulous. We share the croft with Loki and Helga, a pair of ravens. They’re most active in the spring but we love living so close to them. Fascinating birds.
And wow, you raised one! What an amazing opportunity to get to know a bird ❤️
We get to know a lot about animals by trying to help them. We make a lot of mistakes, but we learn. Pew was such a character, he would follow us around the property and steal tools or sit on your shoulder and tell you what to do. He understood how to get into just about every gate or door we had. As they commonly live for about 20 years, I hope he is still out there. He eventually met a nice girl and moved off into the bush to have babies (as they do), we saw him a few times with his family, when they came to visit, but I haven’t seen him for a few years now.
We’re blessed to share their lives. We continually underestimate the intelligence of other creatures, I think. No fat ball, however secured and caged, has ever escaped the rooks and the ravens here!