Thick-billed Raven

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iThick-billed Raven
Conservation status
Least Concern (LC)
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Class: Aves Order: Passeriformes Family: Corvidae Genus: Corvus Species: C. crassirostris
Binomial name
Corvus crassirostris Rüppell, 1836

The Thick-billed Raven (Corvus crassirostris), a Corvid from the Horn of Africa, shares with the Common Raven the accolade of the largest in the family (60-64 cm in length) and indeed the largest of the bird order Passeriformes (perching birds). It has a very large bill that is laterally compressed and is deeply curved in profile giving the bird a very distinctive appearance. This bill is black with a white tip and has deep nasal grooves with only light nasal bristle covers.

It has very short feathers on the head, throat and neck which on the throat and upper breast, have an oily brown gloss. The rest of the bird is glossy black except for a distinctive white patch of short feathers on the nape and onto the neck.

Contents 1 Distribution and habitat 2 Behaviour 2.1 Diet 2.2 Nesting 2.3 Voice 3 External image links 4 Video links 5 References

[edit] Distribution and habitat

Its range covers Eritrea and Ethiopia; its habitat includes mountains and high plateau between elevations of 1500 to 2400 metres.

[edit] Behaviour

[edit] Diet

The Thick-billed Raven is omnivorous, feeding on grubs, beetle larvae from animal dung, carrion, scraps of meat, and other human foods. It has been seen taking standing wheat. When seeking food from dung, it has been seen using a distinct scything movement to scatter the dung and extract the grubs.

[edit] Nesting

It nests in trees and on cliffs, apparently building a stick nest like the similar White-necked Raven. It lays three to five eggs.

[edit] Voice

Its calls include a harsh nasal croak or a low wheezy croak or sometimes a "phlurk-phlurk" sound.

[edit] External image links

• Pair of birds
• Head shot of birds
• View from below

[edit] Video links

• Thick-billed Raven videos on the Internet Bird Collection

[edit] References

• BirdLife International (2004). Corvus crassirostris. 2006 IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. IUCN 2006. Retrieved on 12 May 2006. Database entry includes justification for why this species is of least concern