Extraction and consumption of Kurrajong Brachychiton populneus (family Malvaceae) seeds by Pied Currawongs Strepera graculina

Abstract

This note describes three observations of Pied Currawongs Strepera graculina extracting seeds from Kurrajong Brachychiton populneus follicles for consumption in Goulburn, New South Wales. Mostly, the birds extracted seeds by inserting the bill into the follicle, grasping the seed and performing headshakes. A second method involving birds hammering individual follicles with the bill was also observed but mostly between bouts of grasping the seeds directly and headshaking. To the best of our knowledge, this appears to be the first report of Kurrajong seeds in the diet of the Pied Currawong