White-necked Crow
Corvus leucognaphalus
A large omnivorous species that occupies a wide range of habitats including agricultural fields, but prefers wet upland woods. Appears all black; the namesake white neck feathers are only visible during courtship. Note its bright red eyes. The only other large black species sharing its range is the Palm Crow, which has dark eyes and is a bit smaller. Additionally, the White-necked Crow has a relatively long, pointed bill with limited feathering atop when compared with that of the Palm Crow. This species vocalizations are remarkably parrotlike and rather unlike those of other crows. Calls include an upward inflected, rolling, and drawn out “wreh,” usually given in series as well as a variety of shrill burbling or gobbling sounds.
Identification
A stocky bird, it is the largest Caribbean corvid, measuring 42–46 centimetres or 17–18 inches in length. The overall appearance is black, with a bluish-purple gloss in good light; despite the name, the neck typically appears entirely black, as the namesake white is restricted to the bases of the neck feathers, rarely visible in the field. The black bill is long and deep, and curves gently downward to the tip, giving the bird a large headed appearance. The nasal bristles do not quite cover the nostrils, unlike the majority of species in this genus. There is a patch of dark grey bare skin behind the eye, and the base of the lower mandible has a bare strip of the same coloured skin. The iris is a distinctive crimson red in colour, and the legs and feet are black. It often flies high over the forest canopy and soars on thermals, unlike the palm crow, which rarely, if ever, soars.
Taxonomy
Two other species, the Cuban crow (C. nasicus) and the Jamaican crow (C. jamaicensis), appear to be very closely related to it, sharing several key morphological features. The fourth species from this region, the palm crow (C. palmarum), would appear to be a later arrival (at least in evolutionary terms) and shows similarities to the fish crow (C. ossifragus) of North America and two Mexican species, despite it being sympatric with the white-necked crow on Hispaniola.
- Scientific name
- Corvus leucognaphalus
- Authority
- Daudin, 1800
- Order
- Passeriformes
- Family
- Corvidae
- Genus
- Corvus
Range and habitat
It inhabits both lowland and mountain forest, and tolerates degraded areas used for agriculture.
- Migration
- Resident species
Conservation
It has been designated as "Vulnerable" by the IUCN, due to having a severely fragmented population which is mostly decreasing, and several other threats (mainly hunting for both food and as a crop pest, destruction of habitat for agriculture and timber, and attacks on nest sites by the recently arrived pearly-eyed thrasher (Margarops fuscatus)); the same factors that led to its extirpation on Puerto Rico seem to affect the remaining populations on Hispaniola and surrounding islands.
- Population trend
- declining
Photos
Distribution
Bird Calls
Other Birds
Gray-crowned Prinia
Prinia cinereocapilla
Small, rather stumpy-looking prinia with a highly restricted range in the south-central and southeastern Himalayan foothills. Warm brown with pale underparts and a gray crown. Favors grassy or shrubby forest edges, particularly in areas with Themeda grass. Song is a either a buzz followed by cheeps or a series of buzzy liquid trills. Most common call is a buzzy trill.
Dorst's Cisticola
Cisticola guinea
Small but strong-billed cisticola that is rufous on the cap and the back of the neck, rich gray-brown on the back, and pale buff below. The back is plain in breeding plumage but has blurry streaks in non-breeding plumage. Note the black band and pale tips across the end of the tail. Found locally in savanna and dry woodland, mostly in the grassy understory. Very similar to Red-pate Cisticola, and best distinguished by song, but also has a duller rufous cap and more buffy underparts, especially the undertail. Also similar to Foxy and Rufous Cisticolas, but larger, with a rufous cap that contrasts with the gray-brown back. The song is a short, high-pitched trill, sometimes followed by several whistled notes.
Red-capped Robin-Chat
Cossypha natalensis
A medium-sized, vibrantly colored robin-chat with tail, underparts, throat, and face all pumpkin orange, emphasizing the beady dark eye. The back and wings are steel-blue, except for the dark central tail feathers. Pairs are secretive in thickets, forest patches, and dense woodland, where they typically forage on the ground. The species is often first detected by its plaintive trembling “creee-craww” contact call and other typical fluty robin-chat vocalizations, including many imitations of other species.
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