Alternative name: Little Crow
Includes: Sunda Crow, Sulawesi Crow
- Corvus enca
Identification
40 - 47cm. A medium-sized, slim crow.
- Plumage black, glossed purple-violet, dull matet slate to black on underparts
- Slightly peaked forecrown
- Medium-length, slightly graduated tail
- Broad blunt wings and short square-tipped tail in flight
- Black, relatively long, dagger-like bill. Straight along culmen except for gentle downward curves distally.
- Dark brown iris
Sexes similar. Juveniles with grey iris and less glossy plumage.
Similar species
Very similar to Large-billed Crow but slimmer build, straighter culmen, less peaked forecrown and less hackled throat. In flight with shorter tail, shorter hand with less fingered primaries.
Distribution
Found in peninsular Malaysia, Borneo, Sumatra, Java, Sulawesi and other islands of the Moluccas (Indonesia) and the Philippines. Elusive and uncommon in most of its range.
Taxonomy
Polytypic. Consists of eight subspecies:
- C. e. compilator: "Sunda Crow". Peninsular Malaysia, Sumatra and Borneo
- C. e. celebensis: "Sulawesi Crow". Sulawesi, adjacent islands, Banggai and Talaud
- C. e. enca: "Sunda Crow". Java, Bali and Mentawai Islands
- C. e. mangoli: "Sulawesi Crow". Sula Islands
- C. e. sierramadrensis: North and Central Luzon
- C. e. pusillus: Mindoro, Calamian Group and Palawan
- C. e. samarensis: Samar and Mindanao
The taxonomy of this species is not yet completely solved and a future split in two or more species seems possible. Eaton et al [4] separate subspecies celebensis and mangoli as "Sulawesi Crow" (C. celebensis), placing compilator and enca in "Sunda Crow" (C. enca). They cite deep mitochondrial DNA divergence and vocal differences.
Banggai Crow and Violet Crow were formerly treated as subspecies of this species.
Habitat
Moist lowland primary and well-grown secondary forest. Occurs mainly below 600m. Prefers extensive forest and usually encountered near watercourses, clearings or forest edge.
Behaviour
Feeds mainly on fruit. Takes also invertebrates, small lizards, sometimes roadkills.
Usually seen in pairs or family parties.
Breeding not well known. Eggs are recorded in June and July in Borneo. The nest is a bulky mass of twigs, placed high in a large tree. Lays 2 eggs.
Generally a resident species.
References
- Clements, J. F., T. S. Schulenberg, M. J. Iliff, S. M. Billerman, T. A. Fredericks, B. L. Sullivan, and C. L. Wood. 2019. The eBird/Clements Checklist of Birds of the World: v2019. Downloaded from http://www.birds.cornell.edu/clementschecklist/download/
- 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 the large number of potential future splits of this species (posts 11-13)
- Eaton, J.A.. van Balen, B. Brickle, N.W., B Rheindk F.E. (2021). Birds of the Indonesian Archipelago, Greater Sundas and Wallacea. Lynx Edicions. Barcelona. Second Edition
Recommended Citation
- BirdForum Opus contributors. (2024) Slender-billed Crow. In: BirdForum, the forum for wild birds and birding. Retrieved 26 April 2024 from https://www.birdforum.net/opus/Slender-billed_Crow
External Links
GSearch checked for 2020 platform.1
