Collared Crow
Corvus torquatus
By far the most distinctive crow of farmland, fields, and other open spaces: adults black with white hindneck connecting to white breast band. Superficially similar to adult Daurian Jackdaw, but the latter is more compact and smaller, with pale plumage extending through the belly. Call is a higher-pitched cawing than that of Carrion and Large-billed Crows.
Identification
It is about 52–55 cm in length—the same size or slightly larger than the carrion crow (C. corone), with proportionately slightly longer wings, tail and bill. A sleek and handsome bird, it has glossy black plumage except for the back of the neck, upper back (mantle), and a broad band around the lower breast that is white. The bill, legs and feet are black.<p>It sometimes flies with its feet hanging down below the body in a characteristically "lazy" way.<p>The voice is a loud "kaaar" repeated several times with other slight variations on it to suit the occasion. It also like many other corvids, utters strange clipping and clicking sounds during its head bowing display to another bird.
Taxonomy
- Scientific name
- Corvus torquatus
- Authority
- Lesson, RP, 1831
- Order
- Passeriformes
- Family
- Corvidae
- Genus
- Corvus
Range and habitat
The range of this species is essentially China, covering large areas of the country though not further north than Beijing. It occurs in plains and low lying river valleys in fairly open country and cultivated regions and is a common sight in paddy fields. It tends to avoid large towns and cities and is predominantly a rural species.<p>Food is sought mainly on the ground where a large range of items are taken, such as insects, mollusks and other invertebrates (even from shallow water), grains, especially rice and it also searches among refuse for suitable food items left by humans. It appears to take less carrion than other species but will if the opportunity arises, and will also take eggs and nestlings.<p>The nest is usually in a tree and is plastered with mud. There are usually 3–4 eggs laid.<p>It was formerly classified as a Species of Least Concern by the IUCN. But new research has shown it to be rarer than it was believed. It was uplisted to Near Threatened status in 2008 and Vulnerable in 2018.
- Migration
- Resident species
Conservation
- Population trend
- declining
Photos
Distribution
Bird Calls
Other Birds
Little Penguin
Eudyptula minor
Tiny blue-gray penguin with pale eye. Nests on the southern coastline of Australia and across New Zealand, where it breeds in burrows in dunes or rocks, often in human-made breakwaters. Usually seen swimming on the surface out to sea, or when arriving ashore in the evening. Distinguished by small size and pale plumage, lacking any black.
Micronesian Starling
Aplonis opaca
Rather large with a short tail. Uniformly black with a green glossy sheen. Eye pale yellow. Juvenile pale gray below, warmer brown above, with an amber eye. Found in all habitats. Common calls are mostly whistles, gurgles, and chips.
Straw-tailed Whydah
Vidua fischeri
A nest parasite that lays its eggs in the nests of Purple Grenadiers. As with other whydahs, breeding males are spectacular, whereas non-breeding males and females are drab. Breeding males are mostly black, with golden-buff coloring on the cap, the belly, and the elongated central tail feathers. Non-breeding males and females have a brownish back, a golden-buff head, and a red bill. Found in rather dry savanna and cultivated areas. Non-breeding male and female can be identified by their red bill and their almost unmarked plain buff head. Not very vocal, but does imitate Purple Grenadier, and gives a quick jumble of high-pitched whistled notes.
Start Your Bird Watching Journey
Identify a bird outdoors and keep the field guide close for your next observation.