Sinaloa Crow
Corvus sinaloae
Small glossy crow, common in northwest Mexico; endemic. Occurs in towns, villages, rubbish dumps, farmland, and semiopen areas with hedges and taller trees; often near water. Roosts locally in mangroves (at times in thousands). Social and usually in flocks, at times of hundreds. Most likely to be confused with male Great-tailed Grackle, which has pale eyes and longer and keel-shaped tail (shed in late-summer molt). Calls are high, nasal caws.
Identification
Visually, it is nearly identical to and the same length (34–38 cm) as the Tamaulipas crow (Corvus imparatus). It has the same purple-glossed, silky, black plumage with a black bill, legs, and feet. The two species differ markedly in voice.
Taxonomy
- Scientific name
- Corvus sinaloae
- Authority
- Davis, LI, 1958
- Order
- Passeriformes
- Family
- Corvidae
- Genus
- Corvus
Range and habitat
It occurs on the Pacific slope from southern Sonora south to Manzanillo. The crow inhabits coastal regions where it forages on the seashore, semi-desert, open woodlands, river banks and hills up to 300 metres or more. It is very common around coastal towns and villages.
- Migration
- Resident species
Conservation
- Population trend
- stable
Photos
Distribution
Bird Calls
Other Birds
Red-footed Falcon
Falco vespertinus
Long-winged and elegant, but looks less powerful than Eurasian Hobby, with which it may associate while hawking for insects. Males unmistakable, females distinctive. Juveniles can be confused with young Hobbies, but note juvenile Red-footed's barred uppertail. Often seen perched on telephone wires and posts. Nests in colonies mostly in old corvid nests, often of Rooks. Hunts over open and semiopen habitats, often near water.
Silver-backed Butcherbird
Cracticus argenteus
Medium-sized ambush-hunter with a long gray bill with a dark, hooked tip. Black head and face with a white nape and chin. Upperparts very pale gray, with white rump, outer part of wings black, inner part of wings white, and black tail with white tip. Rollicking, chuckling song.
Spix's Spinetail
Synallaxis spixi
Medium-sized spinetail found in light woodland, savanna, grassland, and forest edges. Note the gray-brown body contrasting with a rufous crown and wing coverts, and a black throat. Best detected and identified by its song, which is a rapid series of “wit- dje-dje-dje” notes repeated for long periods.
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