- Corvus nasicus
Photo by Dave 2x
Identification
40-42 cm.
- Black plumage, iridescent blue purple
- Dark grey bare skin behind iris and at base of lower mandible
- Brown red iris
- Long, black curved bill
- Gape reaching to midpoint below the eye
- Nostril opening not covered by nasal bristles
- Black legs and feet
Sexes similar, juveniles slightly duller than adults.
Similar species
Cuban Palm-Crow, which see for comparison.
Distribution
Cuba, the Isle of Pines, and the southern Bahamas.
Common or even locally abundant.
Taxonomy
This is a monotypic species[1].
May form a superspecies with Jamaican Crow and White-necked Crow.
Habitat
Forests, woodland, marshes, farms and villages.
Behaviour
Often seen in small, noisy groups, sometimes together with Cuban Palm-Crow.
Diet
The diet includes fruit, insects and grain.
Breeding
Breeding season from March to July. The nest is made of sticks and placed in a palm tree, among tree branches or on large bromeliad in a tree. Lays 3 - 4 eggs. No other information.
References
- Clements, JF. 2011. The Clements Checklist of Birds of the World. 6th ed., with updates to August 2011. Ithaca: Cornell Univ. Press. ISBN 978-0801445019. Spreadsheet available at http://www.birds.cornell.edu/clementschecklist/downloadable-clements-checklist
- Del Hoyo, J, A Elliott, and D Christie, eds. 2009. Handbook of the Birds of the World. Volume 14: Bush-shrikes to Old World Sparrows. Barcelona: Lynx Edicions. ISBN 978-8496553507
- Birdforum thread discussing id of this species
Recommended Citation
- BirdForum Opus contributors. (2024) Cuban Crow. In: BirdForum, the forum for wild birds and birding. Retrieved 9 December 2024 from https://www.birdforum.net/opus/Cuban_Crow
