White-winged Chough Corcorax melanorhamphos Scientific name definitions

44–50 cm; 280–425 g. Nominate race has plumage entirely black, except for white wingpanel (c. 8 cm; visible only in flight) across most of primaries; some greenish gloss on new head feathers; old plumage with brownish tinge; iris red to orange, sclerotic ring sometimes engorded, turning bright red, in moments of excitement or aggression; bill and legs dark grey to blackish. Distinguished from superficially similar ravens and crows (Corvus) by long, slender down­curved bill, long tail , relatively small head, white in wing, red (not white or black) eye colour. Sexes similar. Juvenile differs from adult only in having brown eyes; eye colour changes with age, acquiring more orange over four years, and as in adult in fifth year. Race whiteae is very similar in appearance to nominate but smaller, with slightly shorter and thinner bill, perhaps also with faint pinkish wash in wingpanel.

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Editor's Note: Additional distribution information for this taxon can be found in the 'Subspecies' article above. In the future we will develop a range-wide distribution article.

Open habitats, mainly eucalypt (Eucalyptus) woodlands and open forests in which canopy is not closed; found also in plantations of exotic pines (Pinus), in well-wooded farmland and in suburban areas with well-established parks and large gardens. Prefers sparse understorey with grass and few shrubs, and a thick layer of leaf litter, fallen bark and twigs. Also forages out over stubble of harvested crops.

Sedentary, wandering over large home range of c. 1000 ha in non-breeding season, with stable territory in breeding season. Does not disperse from natal group unless a vacancy for a breeding male or female occurs in a nearby group.

Wide range of seeds and insects; insects predominate in summer, and seeds in winter. Also occasionally small mammals and bivalve molluscs. Forages mainly on ground , where it digs with the bill, turning over and raking through litter . Once, during a plague of house mice (Mus musculus), both this species and Struthidea cinerea seen to chase mice from under grass tussocks, grab them by the neck, and beat the victims against ground before consuming them. Has been recorded also as probing in mud of a creekbed for freshwater mussels (of family Hyriidae), which it prised open with the bill or smashed against a rock. Forages in groups , members of which 1–2 m apart in a line; very few prey items in their path are overlooked. Young do not become skilled in all methods of food-finding for at least two years.

Clear piping whistle, usually descending in pitch and ventriloquial; also a variety of harsher calls  .

Laying in Sept–Dec (in austral spring and early summer), but can breed after rain at other times in drier areas; sometimes two broods. Co-operative breeder in group consisting of generally one breeding pair and up to 18 helpers, latter largely offspring of main pair. Nest , built by all group-members, a large bowl constructed of mud, placed 2·4–20 m (mostly 8–10 m) above ground on horizontal branch or fork of tree, most commonly a eucalypt; built slowly, as each layer of mud has to dry before next layer added. Clutch usually 3–5 eggs  , larger clutches the product of more than one female; incubation by all group-members, period 19–20 days; chicks brooded and fed by all members of group , nestling period 24–30 days; fledglings cared for by non-breeding helpers, allowing female to renest, most care of young by older group-members as individuals in first four years are less efficient foragers and struggle to feed themselves; young do not become independent until 6–7 months, and remain with group in subsequent years as helpers. Large groups most productive; most nest failures involve smaller groups, and due to starvation of nestlings; pairs without helpers always unsuccessful.

Not globally threatened. Widespread, but never common; South Australian race whiteae rare. Rather sparsely distributed, as groups require large home range and, further, species has suffered from habitat clearance for agriculture. Main threats, in addition to habitat loss, are fire and also disruption of breeding by drought and increasing aridity, which prevent the building of mud nests. In addition to wildfires, man-made "fuel-reduction burns" remove understorey vegetation and the ground litter on which this species depends. Can co-exist with man in well-wooded farmland, in pine plantations and on fringes of country towns or suburban areas with extensive parks. Occurs in many national parks and other protected areas.