Seasonal Changes in Diet of Pied Currawongs Strepera graculinaat Wollongong, New South Wales

Abstract

Data on the diet of Pied Currawongs Strepera graculina were acquired from incidental records from 1984–96 and 165 hours of observation at four nests. In the non-breeding season, fruit from native and introduced trees was the major component of diet. In the breeding season, breeding currawongs switched to a diet consisting mostly of insects (91% by weight) before eggs were hatched and mostly of nestling and juvenile birds (55% by weight) when feeding their own nestlings. Estimated food consumption rates were 0.56 g per currawong-hour (parents only) for insect prey in the incubation period and 0.67 g per currawong-hour (parents and nestlings) for passerine prey in the nestling period. During a breeding episode, a breeding pair of currawongs may capture up to 2000 g of young passerines. The method of dismembering prey is described.