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White-necked raven

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(Redirected from White-necked Raven) Species of bird For the bird formerly known as the American white-necked raven, see Chihuahuan raven.
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White-necked raven
From Ngorongoro Conservation Area
Conservation status

Least Concern  (IUCN 3.1)
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Aves
Order: Passeriformes
Family: Corvidae
Genus: Corvus
Species: C. albicollis
Binomial name
Corvus albicollis
Latham, 1790
Distribution map

The white-necked raven (Corvus albicollis) is a species of raven native to eastern and southern Africa. It is somewhat smaller (50–54 cm in length) than the common raven or its nearest relative, the thick-billed raven C. crassirostris.

Description

Profile of head - taken at the Cincinnati Zoo

The white-necked raven has a much shorter tail than the common raven, as well as a deeper bill with a white tip that is almost as strongly arched as that of the thick-billed raven. Though predominantly black, the throat, breast and neck show a faint purple gloss. There is a large patch of white feathers on the nape of the neck.

Soars well with shallower wingbeats than other Corvidae.

Measurements

  • Length: 50 – 54 cm
  • Wingspan: 752 – 860 mm (17 unsexed birds)
  • Weight: 762 - 865 g

Vocalisation

Often described as a raven with a sore throat, it has very similar calls to the common raven, but with a more husky note. It has a croak like the other raven species but with a more whispering note. Like all corvids, the White-necked raven is capable of vocal mimicry. However, this behavior is only ever recorded in captivity.

Distribution and habitat

White-necked raven (focused) with the Kilimanjaro peak in the background White-necked raven (focused) with the Kilimanjaro peak in the background

It occurs in eastern and southern Africa in open, mountainous country. It is quite commonly found in small towns and villages as long as there are mountains or hills for roosting and nesting relatively nearby.

The species is associated with mountains, as the species nests on cliff ledges. As such its often found in montane grasslands.

Behaviour

in flight

The species is omnivorous, feeding on both vegetable and animal matter.

Most of this bird's food is obtained from the ground, but it will take food from trees as well. It has been seen to drop a tortoise from a height on to hard ground, preferably on rocks, and then swoop down to eat it, or even pick it up again if not sufficiently broken. White-necked ravens will also readily take carrion from road kills. Fruit, grain, insects, small reptiles, peanuts and human food are also readily taken, and the bird forages in back yards and gardens quite openly. Like all or most raven species, White-necked ravens form flocks after leaving their parents and, once fully matured, will pair off and form territories. They are often found in the company of other scavengers such as kites or vultures.

Nests are bowls of sticks lined with grass, hair, and wool, built mainly on cliff ledges but occasionally found in trees. There are usually 3-5 eggs laid.

References

  1. BirdLife International (2016). "Corvus albicollis". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2016: e.T22706077A94049525. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-3.RLTS.T22706077A94049525.en. Retrieved 12 November 2021.
  2. Roberts, Austin; MacLean, Gordon L. (1993). Roberts' Birds of Southern Africa. Trustees of the J. Voelcker Bird Book Fund. ISBN 0-620-17583-4.
  3. ^ Roberts' Birds of Southern Africa. The John Voelker Bird Book Fund. 1993. p. 477. ISBN 0-620-17583-4.
  4. Irwin, Michael P Stuart (1981). The birds of Zimbabwe. .
  5. ^ Winterbottom, J. M. (1975-12-01). "NOTES ON THE SOUTH AFRICAN SPECIES OF CORVUS". Journal of African Ornithology. 46 (3): 236–250. Bibcode:1975Ostri..46..236W. doi:10.1080/00306525.1975.9639523. ISSN 0030-6525.

External links

Extant species of family Corvidae
Family Corvidae
Choughs
Pyrrhocorax
Treepies
Crypsirina
Dendrocitta
Platysmurus
Temnurus
Oriental
magpies
Cissa
Urocissa
Old World jays
Garrulus
Podoces
(Ground jays)
Ptilostomus
Stresemann's
bushcrow
Zavattariornis
Family Corvidae (continued)
Nutcrackers
Nucifraga
Holarctic
magpies
Pica
True crows
Corvus
Australian and Melanesian species
Little crow (C. bennetti)
Australian raven (C. coronoides)
Bismarck crow (C. insularis)
Brown-headed crow (C. fuscicapillus)
Bougainville crow (C. meeki)
Little raven (C. mellori)
New Caledonian crow (C. moneduloides)
Torresian crow (C. orru)
Forest raven (C. tasmanicus)
Grey crow (C. tristis)
Long-billed crow (C. validus)
White-billed crow (C. woodfordi)
Pacific island species
Hawaiian crow (C. hawaiiensis)
Mariana crow (C. kubaryi)
Tropical Asian species
Slender-billed crow (C. enca)
Small crow (C. samarensis)
Palawan crow (C. pusillus)
Flores crow (C. florensis)
Large-billed crow (C. macrorhynchos)
Eastern jungle crow (C. levaillantii)
Indian jungle crow (C. culminatus)
House crow (C. splendens)
Collared crow (C. torquatus)
Piping crow (C. typicus)
Banggai crow (C. unicolor)
Violet crow (C. violaceus)
Eurasian and North African species
Mesopotamian crow (C. capellanus)
Hooded crow (C. cornix)
Carrion crow (C. corone)
Rook (C. frugilegus)
Eastern carrion crow (C. orientalis)
Fan-tailed raven (C. rhipidurus)
Brown-necked raven (C. ruficollis)
Holarctic species
Common raven (C. corax)
North and Central American species
American crow (C. brachyrhynchos)
Chihuahuan raven (C. cryptoleucus)
Tamaulipas crow (C. imparatus)
Jamaican crow (C. jamaicensis)
White-necked crow (C. leucognaphalus)
Cuban palm crow (C. minutus)
Cuban crow (C. nasicus)
Fish crow (C. ossifragus)
Hispaniolan palm crow (C. palmarum)
Sinaloan crow (C. sinaloae)
Tropical African species
White-necked raven (C. albicollis)
Pied crow (C. albus)
Cape crow (C. capensis)
Thick-billed raven (C. crassirostris)
Somali crow (C. edithae)
Jackdaws
Coloeus
Family Corvidae (continued)
Azure-winged
magpies
Cyanopica
Grey jays
Perisoreus
New World jays
Aphelocoma
(Scrub jays)
Calocitta
(Magpie-Jays)
Cyanocitta
Cyanocorax
Cyanolyca
Gymnorhinus
Taxon identifiers
Corvus albicollis
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