Tamaulipas crow

Tamaulipas crow
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Aves
Order: Passeriformes
Family: Corvidae
Genus: Corvus
Species: C. imparatus
Binomial name
Corvus imparatus
Peters, 1929

The Tamaulipas crow (Corvus imparatus) is a crow found in northeastern Mexico and some of southern Texas.

Description

It is a relatively small and sleek looking crow, 34–38 centimetres (13–15 in) in length. It has very glossy dark, bluish plumage, which appears soft and silky. The bill is quite slender and black, as are the legs and feet. The Chihuahuan raven, a much larger and very different bird, is the only crow it commonly occurs alongside.[2]

Taxonomy

The Sinaloa crow (Corvus sinaloae) appears to be genetically extremely close to this bird and can be considered the western form of it though the voice is quite different, indeed a third species, the fish crow (Corvus ossifragus) of the southeastern United States appears to be very closely related to them also and the three may be considered a superspecies.

Distribution and habitat

Occurring in a relatively small area in northeastern Mexico, it inhabits near desert scrub and bushland and includes farms, small towns and villages in its range. It also occurs in more humid woodland in open areas but does not appear to be found in the higher mountains or along the seashore. It is a sociable bird often forming large flocks, moving together in close groups. Its northern range reaches Brownsville in southern Texas where it has been known to nest.[3]

Behaviour

Diet

Food would appear to be mainly insects taken on the ground though eggs and nestlings are taken in trees as well as many fruits and berries.

Nesting

The nest is similar to the American crow but smaller and is built in a tree or large bush.

Voice

The voice of this crow is unusual and unlike most other species of the genus Corvus. It has a low croaking sound rather like a frog and a call that is described as a soft "gar-lik".

References

  1. ↑ BirdLife International (2012). "Corvus imparatus". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2013.2. International Union for Conservation of Nature. Retrieved 26 November 2013.
  2. ↑ Sibley, David Allen (2000). The Sibley Guide to Birds. New York: Alfred A. Knopf. p. 361. ISBN 978-0-679-45122-8.
  3. ↑ Griggs, Jack L. (1997). American Bird Conservancy's Field Guide to All the Birds of North America. New York: HarperPerennial. ISBN 0-06-273028-2.
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