currawong

English

Wikispecies

Etymology

Probably from Yagara garrawaŋ, ultimately onomatopoeic.

Pronunciation

  • (UK) IPA(key): /ˈkʌɹəwɒŋ/

Noun

currawong (plural currawongs)

  1. Any of the three species, and several subspecies, of large, mainly black, predatory passerine birds in the genus Strepera, endemic to Australia.
    Synonyms: bell-magpie, crow-shrike
    • 1983, Robert Drewe, The Bodysurfers, Penguin, published 2009, page 68:
      Currawongs and cookaburras woke him early.
    • 1985, Peter Carey, Illywhacker, Faber and Faber, published 2003, page 174:
      She has small unblinking eyes like a currawong, turning its head on one side and staring malevolently […].

Derived terms

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