White-necked Raven
Encyclopedia
The White-necked Raven, Corvus albicollis, is somewhat smaller (50–54 cm in length) than the Common Raven
or indeed its nearest relative, the Thick-billed Raven
C. crassirostris.
Soars well with shallower wingbeats than other Corvidae
in open, mountainous country. It is quite commonly found in small towns and villages as long as there are mountains or hills for roosting and nesting relatively nearby.
from a height on to hard ground, preferably on rocks, and then swoop down to eat it, or even pick it up again if not sufficiently broken. White-necked Ravens will also readily take carrion from road kills. Fruit, grain, insects, small reptiles, peanuts and human food are also readily taken and if not persecuted, will forage in back yards and gardens quite openly.
Often in the company of other scavengers such as kites or vultures
Nests are a bowl of sticks lined with grass hair and wool found mainly on a cliff ledge but will occasionally nest in a tree. There are usually 3-5 eggs laid.
Common 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...
or indeed its nearest relative, the Thick-billed Raven
Thick-billed Raven
The Thick-billed Raven , a Corvid from the Horn of Africa, shares with the Common Raven the distinction of being the largest in the Corvid family, and indeed the largest of the bird order Passeriformes . They measure 60-64 cm in length and weigh 1.5 kg...
C. crassirostris.
Description
It has a much shorter tail and a deeper bill with a white tip that is strongly arched (almost as much as the Thick-billed Raven). Though predominantly black, the throat, breast and neck are a blackish-brown in colour, with a faint purple gloss. There is a large patch of white feathers on the back of the lower neck.Soars well with shallower wingbeats than other Corvidae
Measurements
- Length 50 - 54 cm
- Wing 376 - 430 mm (17 unsexed birds)
- Weight 762 - 865g
Voice
Often described as a raven with a sore throat, it has very similar calls to the Common Raven, but with a more husky note. It has a croak like the raven but with a more whispering note added.Distribution and habitat
It occurs in eastern and southern AfricaAfrica
Africa is the world's second largest and second most populous continent, after Asia. At about 30.2 million km² including adjacent islands, it covers 6% of the Earth's total surface area and 20.4% of the total land area...
in open, mountainous country. It is quite commonly found in small towns and villages as long as there are mountains or hills for roosting and nesting relatively nearby.
Behaviour
Most of this birds food is obtained from the ground, but it will take food from trees also. It has been seen to drop a tortoiseTortoise
Tortoises are a family of land-dwelling reptiles of the order of turtles . Like their marine cousins, the sea turtles, tortoises are shielded from predators by a shell. The top part of the shell is the carapace, the underside is the plastron, and the two are connected by the bridge. The tortoise...
from a height on to hard ground, preferably on rocks, and then swoop down to eat it, or even pick it up again if not sufficiently broken. White-necked Ravens will also readily take carrion from road kills. Fruit, grain, insects, small reptiles, peanuts and human food are also readily taken and if not persecuted, will forage in back yards and gardens quite openly.
Often in the company of other scavengers such as kites or vultures
Nests are a bowl of sticks lined with grass hair and wool found mainly on a cliff ledge but will occasionally nest in a tree. There are usually 3-5 eggs laid.
Photo Image Links
Video links
- White-necked Raven videos, photos & sounds on the Internet Bird Collection