Pied Crow

Pied Crow
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Class: Aves Order: Passeriformes Family: Corvidae Genus: Corvus Species: albus
Binomial name
Corvus albus

The Pied Crow (Corvus albus) is approximately the size of the European Carrion Crow or a little larger but has a proportionately larger bill and slightly longer tail, 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. It is rarely seen very far from human habitation though is not as tied to the urban way of life in the same way as the House Crow (Corvus splendens) of Asia.

Range: Sub-Saharan Africa down to the Cape of Good Hope and also the large island of Madagascar, the Comoro islands, Aldabra, Zanzibar, Pemba and Fernando Po. It inhabits mainly open country with villages and towns nearby. It does not occur in the equatorial rainforest region.

Food: Most of its food is obtained from the ground such as insects and other small invertebrates, small reptiles, small mammals, young birds and eggs, grain, peanuts (groundnuts), carrion and any scraps of human food and fruit.

Nest: Mainly in trees, sometimes quite small, or even the cross supports of telephone poles. Eggs, 3 to 6. Incubation is 18-19 days and the young are usually fledged by around 45 days. Both sexes rear the young.

Voice: A harsh ar-ar-ar-ar or karh-karh-karh.

Image link

• Pied Crow (http://www.chez.com/baladeornithologique/Oiseaux/CorboPie.htm)