Similar to other currawongs in that it is a mainly dark bird with some white markings and a yellow eye, the Grey Currawong is however a highly variable species, with six distinct subspecies throughout its range. All subspecies have a white-tipped tail. These include: the nominate ('originally named') race, versicolor, which is variably grey to grey-brown, with a white tail-tip, undertail and white across wings; the 'Clinking Currawong', race arguta, is a large, very dark form; the 'Black-winged Currawong', race melanoptera, is grey-black without any white on wings, but retains white undertail and tail tip; the 'Brown Currawong', race intermedia, is overall darker grey-brown than the nominate; race plumbea is darker and replaces the nominate race in the western parts of its range; race halmaturina is dark, with no white in wings and a narrow white tail band.