Brown-necked raven: Difference between revisions
Undid revision 637989797 by LinkyWulfe (talk) Reliable sources (i.e. "The Raven" by Derek Ratcliff) says they DO eat snakes |
LinkyWulfe (talk | contribs) mNo edit summary |
||
| Line 17: | Line 17: | ||
| range_map_caption = Distribution map |
| range_map_caption = Distribution map |
||
}} |
}} |
||
The '''brown-necked raven''' (''Corvus ruficollis'') is a larger bird (52–56 cm in length) than the [[carrion crow]] though not as large as the [[common raven]]. It has similar proportions to the common raven but the bill is not so large or deep and the wings tend to be a little more pointed in profile. The head and throat are a distinct brownish-black giving the bird its [[English language|English]] name, while the rest of the plumage is black glossed with purple, blue or purplish-blue. The feathers of this species often fade quite quickly to a brownish black (even the truly black feathers) and the bird can look distinctly brown by the time it moults. The feet, legs and bill are black. The [[dwarf raven]] was formerly considered a subspecies (''Corvus ruficollis edithae'') but this bird now appears to be closer to the [[pied crow]] (''C. albus'') than this species |
The '''brown-necked raven''' (''Corvus ruficollis'') is a larger bird (52–56 cm in length) than the [[carrion crow]] though not as large as the [[common raven]]. It has similar proportions to the common raven but the bill is not so large or deep and the wings tend to be a little more pointed in profile. The head and throat are a distinct brownish-black giving the bird its [[English language|English]] name, while the rest of the plumage is black glossed with purple, blue or purplish-blue. Like the Common raven, Thick-billed raven and White-necked raven, it is one of the larger raven species. The smaller raven species are the Australian raven, Forest raven, Little raven, Fan-tailed raven and Chihuahuan raven with the Thick-billed raven being the world's largest raven species and the Chihuahuan raven being the smallest. The feathers of this species often fade quite quickly to a brownish black (even the truly black feathers) and the bird can look distinctly brown by the time it moults. The feet, legs and bill are black. The [[dwarf raven]] was formerly considered a subspecies (''Corvus ruficollis edithae'') but this bird now appears to be closer to the [[pied crow]] (''C. albus'') than this species. |
||
This species has a wide range across virtually the whole of [[North Africa]], down as far as [[Kenya]], the [[Arabian Peninsula]] and up into the [[Greater Middle East]] and southern [[Iran]]. It lives in a predominantly [[desert]] environment visiting oases and [[palm tree|palm]] groves. |
This species has a wide range across virtually the whole of [[North Africa]], down as far as [[Kenya]], the [[Arabian Peninsula]] and up into the [[Greater Middle East]] and southern [[Iran]]. It lives in a predominantly [[desert]] environment visiting oases and [[palm tree|palm]] groves. |
||
[[File:Brown-necked Raven(Corvus ruficollis).jpg|left|thumb|Two in Egypt]] |
[[File:Brown-necked Raven(Corvus ruficollis).jpg|left|thumb|Two in Egypt]] |
||
Revision as of 03:51, 24 January 2015
| Brown-necked raven | |
|---|---|
| |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | |
| Phylum: | |
| Class: | |
| Order: | |
| Family: | |
| Genus: | |
| Species: | C. ruficollis
|
| Binomial name | |
| Corvus ruficollis Lesson, 1830
| |
| |
| Distribution map | |
The brown-necked raven (Corvus ruficollis) is a larger bird (52–56 cm in length) than the carrion crow though not as large as the common raven. It has similar proportions to the common raven but the bill is not so large or deep and the wings tend to be a little more pointed in profile. The head and throat are a distinct brownish-black giving the bird its English name, while the rest of the plumage is black glossed with purple, blue or purplish-blue. Like the Common raven, Thick-billed raven and White-necked raven, it is one of the larger raven species. The smaller raven species are the Australian raven, Forest raven, Little raven, Fan-tailed raven and Chihuahuan raven with the Thick-billed raven being the world's largest raven species and the Chihuahuan raven being the smallest. The feathers of this species often fade quite quickly to a brownish black (even the truly black feathers) and the bird can look distinctly brown by the time it moults. The feet, legs and bill are black. The dwarf raven was formerly considered a subspecies (Corvus ruficollis edithae) but this bird now appears to be closer to the pied crow (C. albus) than this species. This species has a wide range across virtually the whole of North Africa, down as far as Kenya, the Arabian Peninsula and up into the Greater Middle East and southern Iran. It lives in a predominantly desert environment visiting oases and palm groves.
.jpg)
Food consists of a wide range of items, including carrion, snakes, locusts and other grasshoppers, stranded fish (in coastal areas), grain stolen from bags, dates and other fruits. It is quite fearless when not persecuted but is quick to become wary and shy if too much attention is paid to it. A 2009 Israeli study showed the species to cooperatively hunt lizards, with birds blocking exits while others hunted.[2]
The nest is very much like the common raven's, and may be found in trees, on cliffs or in old and ruined buildings. The dwarf raven seems to prefer thorn trees for its nest building. There are usually 4-5 eggs laid and incubated over 20–22 days. The young usually leave the nest by the 37th or 38th day and can fly well by 42–45 days.
The voice is very similar to the common raven's consisting mainly of croaks, though higher in pitch; and a harsh "karr-karr-karr" very much like a carrion crow too. In flight, it will utter a "kuerk-kuerk" call.
References
- ^ Template:IUCN
- ^ Walker, Matt (December 1, 2009). "Clever ravens cooperatively hunt". BBC Earthnews website. British Broadcasting Corporation. Retrieved 2 December 2009.
External links
- "Brown-necked raven". The Encyclopedia of Life.
- brown-necked raven videos, photos & sounds on the Internet Bird Collection