White-necked Crow
Encyclopedia
The White-necked Crow is the largest (42–46 cm (16.5–18.1 in)in length) of the four Caribbean
crow species. Two other species, the Cuban Crow
(Corvus nasicus) and the Jamaican Crow
(Corvus jamaicensis), appear to be very closely related to it sharing several key morphological features. The fourth species from this region, the Palm Crow
(Corvus palmarum), would appear to be a later arrival (at least in evolutionary terms) and shows affinities with the Fish Crow
(C. ossifragus) of North America
and two Mexican
species.
A stocky bird, this forest crow is now found principally on the large island of Hispaniola
that comprises the countries of Dominican Republic
and Haiti
. It was also found on Puerto Rico
but is now considered to be extinct on that island since the early 20th Century due to considerable forest clearance and hunting
. It inhabits both lowland and mountain forest and unlike the related Cuban Crow, does not appear to tolerate areas that have been cleared for farming. It often flies high over the forest canopy and soars on thermal
s unlike the conspecific Palm Crow which rarely if ever soars.
but a degree of invertebrate
food is also taken especially when feeding young. Small vertebrate prey has also been found in the stomachs of collected birds including small native toad
s and nestlings. It can almost certainly be presumed that bird eggs are also taken when found.
, Corvus corax.
Caribbean
The Caribbean is a crescent-shaped group of islands more than 2,000 miles long separating the Gulf of Mexico and the Caribbean Sea, to the west and south, from the Atlantic Ocean, to the east and north...
crow species. Two other species, the Cuban Crow
Cuban Crow
The Cuban Crow is one of four species of crow that occur on a few key islands in the Caribbean. It is closely related to the White-necked Crow and Jamaican Crow , with which it shares similar features. The fourth Caribbean crow, the Palm Crow The Cuban Crow (Corvus nasicus) is one of four species...
(Corvus nasicus) and the Jamaican Crow
Jamaican Crow
The Jamaican Crow, Corvus jamaicensis is a comparatively small crow species . It shares several key morphological features with two further West Indian species, the Cuban Crow, Corvus nasicus and the White-necked Crow, Corvus leucognaphalus of Hispaniola which are almost certainly very closely...
(Corvus jamaicensis), appear to be very closely related to it sharing several key morphological features. The fourth species from this region, the Palm Crow
Palm Crow
The Palm Crow is a relatively small black bird in the crow family that occurs mostly on the large Caribbean island of Hispaniola, itself divided into the two countries of Dominican Republic and Haiti. It was formerly quite frequent on Cuba but has become severely reduced in number and may be...
(Corvus palmarum), would appear to be a later arrival (at least in evolutionary terms) and shows affinities with the Fish Crow
Fish Crow
The Fish Crow is a species of crow that is associated with wetland habitats in the eastern and southeastern United States.-Taxonomy:The Fish Crow was first described by Alexander Wilson in 1812...
(C. ossifragus) of North America
North America
North America is a continent wholly within the Northern Hemisphere and almost wholly within the Western Hemisphere. It is also considered a northern subcontinent of the Americas...
and two Mexican
Mexico
The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
species.
A stocky bird, this forest crow is now found principally on the large island of Hispaniola
Hispaniola
Hispaniola is a major island in the Caribbean, containing the two sovereign states of the Dominican Republic and Haiti. The island is located between the islands of Cuba to the west and Puerto Rico to the east, within the hurricane belt...
that comprises the countries of Dominican Republic
Dominican Republic
The Dominican Republic is a nation on the island of La Hispaniola, part of the Greater Antilles archipelago in the Caribbean region. The western third of the island is occupied by the nation of Haiti, making Hispaniola one of two Caribbean islands that are shared by two countries...
and Haiti
Haiti
Haiti , officially the Republic of Haiti , is a Caribbean country. It occupies the western, smaller portion of the island of Hispaniola, in the Greater Antillean archipelago, which it shares with the Dominican Republic. Ayiti was the indigenous Taíno or Amerindian name for the island...
. It was also found on Puerto Rico
Puerto Rico
Puerto Rico , officially the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico , is an unincorporated territory of the United States, located in the northeastern Caribbean, east of the Dominican Republic and west of both the United States Virgin Islands and the British Virgin Islands.Puerto Rico comprises an...
but is now considered to be extinct on that island since the early 20th Century due to considerable forest clearance and hunting
Hunting
Hunting is the practice of pursuing any living thing, usually wildlife, for food, recreation, or trade. In present-day use, the term refers to lawful hunting, as distinguished from poaching, which is the killing, trapping or capture of the hunted species contrary to applicable law...
. It inhabits both lowland and mountain forest and unlike the related Cuban Crow, does not appear to tolerate areas that have been cleared for farming. It often flies high over the forest canopy and soars on thermal
Thermal
A thermal column is a column of rising air in the lower altitudes of the Earth's atmosphere. Thermals are created by the uneven heating of the Earth's surface from solar radiation, and are an example of convection. The sun warms the ground, which in turn warms the air directly above it...
s unlike the conspecific Palm Crow which rarely if ever soars.
Description
The overall appearance is black with a bluish-purple gloss in good light. 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 reddish ochre in colour, and the legs and feet are black.Diet
The diet is typical of most forest crows, comprising a large amount of fruitFruit
In broad terms, a fruit is a structure of a plant that contains its seeds.The term has different meanings dependent on context. In non-technical usage, such as food preparation, fruit normally means the fleshy seed-associated structures of certain plants that are sweet and edible in the raw state,...
but a degree of invertebrate
Invertebrate
An invertebrate is an animal without a backbone. The group includes 97% of all animal species – all animals except those in the chordate subphylum Vertebrata .Invertebrates form a paraphyletic group...
food is also taken especially when feeding young. Small vertebrate prey has also been found in the stomachs of collected birds including small native toad
Toad
A toad is any of a number of species of amphibians in the order Anura characterized by dry, leathery skin , short legs, and snoat-like parotoid glands...
s and nestlings. It can almost certainly be presumed that bird eggs are also taken when found.
Reproduction
The nest is always solitary and built high in a tall tree though little else concerning their breeding has as yet been recorded.Voice
The voice of the White-necked Crow is quite remarkable and consists of a series of liquid bubbling sounds, squawking and babbling mixed with sweet and harsh notes including some that sound like the Common RavenCommon Raven
The Common Raven , also known as the Northern Raven, is a large, all-black passerine bird. Found across the northern hemisphere, it is the most widely distributed of all corvids...
, Corvus corax.