Pied Crow

Corvus albus

Handsome black-and-white crow. Found in almost all habitats except driest desert and thick rainforest. Feeds by walking along the ground. Strong flier that will fly high and occasionally soar. Common call is a typical crow “crawk”. Overall shape and size similar to some raptors, but none of them show Pied Crow’s contrast between black tail, white underparts, and black head. 

识别特征

It is about the size of the European carrion crow or a little larger (46–50 cm in length), but has a proportionately larger bill, slightly longer tail and wings, and longer legs. As its name suggests, its glossy black head and neck are interrupted by a large area of white feathering from the shoulders down to the lower breast. The tail, bill, and wings are black, too. The eyes are dark brown. The white plumage of immature birds is often mixed with black. It resembles the white-necked and thick-billed ravens, but has a much smaller bill.<p>In southern Africa, its range overlaps with the white-necked raven. The pied crow is slightly smaller and has a white chest and belly with a black, more delicate beak compared to the black chest and belly of the larger white-necked raven, which also has a white-tipped and weightier beak.It is larger than the black crow.<p>The voice is often described as a harsh ar-ar-ar-ar or karh-karh-karh.

分类信息

The pied crow was first described in 1776 by Statius Muller. Its specific name is the Latin adjective albus, meaning "white".<p>The Maasai people call it ol-korrok from the sound of its call. It is considered annoying, but not a bird of ill omen.

学名
Corvus albus
命名信息
Müller, PLS, 1776
Passeriformes
Corvidae
Corvus

分布与栖息地

This species, Africa's most widespread member of the genus Corvus, occurs from sub-Saharan Africa, specifically Nigeria, Ghana, Senegal, Sudan, Somalia, Eritrea, Zambia, Botswana, Mozambique and Zimbabwe, south to the Cape of Good Hope and on the large island of Madagascar, the Comoros Islands, Aldabra, Assumption Island, Cosmoledo, Astove Island, Zanzibar, Pemba, and Fernando Po. It inhabits mainly open country with villages and towns nearby. It does not occur in the equatorial rainforest region. It is rarely seen very far from human habitation, though it is not as tied to the urban way of life as the house crow (Corvus splendens) of Asia, and may be encountered far from human habitation in Eritrea.

迁徙
Resident species

行为

Migration pattern: Resident species.

保护状况

Population trend: stable.

种群趋势
stable

照片

分布

鸟叫声

其他鸟类

Jameson's Wattle-eye

Jameson's Wattle-eye

Platysteira jamesoni

A tiny black-and-white rainforest wattle-eye. Both sexes have a chestnut patch on the side of the face and blue bare skin around the eye, though this eye wattle is larger in males. Found in the understory of rainforest. Somewhat similar to Chestnut Wattle-eye, but does not have a black chest band or extensive chestnut throat. Inconspicuous and difficult to observe; most readily detected by vocalizations. These are variable, but typically consist of piercing, high-pitched whistles which are repeated, sometimes for a long time. 

Bronzed Drongo

Bronzed Drongo

Dicrurus aeneus

A small and compact drongo that is glossy black overall, with a short, moderately forked tail. The shiny feathers on the head, breast, and back of the neck contrast with the plain black face and belly. It often occurs in pairs and small groups, as well as in mixed-species foraging flocks. It is found in forests, along forest edges, and in well-wooded gardens and plantations. The calls are usually a pleasant jumble of shrill sounds, whistles, buzzes, and metallic notes.

Western Spindalis

Western Spindalis

Spindalis zena

Uncommon in thickets, forest edge, and gardens, where found mainly at fruiting trees and bushes. Usually in pairs or small flocks, and often quite inconspicuous. Handsome male is unmistakable, with bold head pattern, golden-yellow and dark reddish body plumage, and bold white wing pattern. Female is notably drab, grayish olive overall with a small white mark on the wing, and a ghosting of the male wing pattern.

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