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Difference between revisions of "Large-billed Crow" - BirdForum Opus

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(distribution, references)
(identification, alternative names)
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'''Alternative names: Jungle Crow; Thick-billed Crow; Black Crow; Japanese Crow (''japonensis'', ''connectens'', ''osai''), Eastern Jungle Crow (''levaillantii''); Indian Jungle Crow (''culminatus'')'''
 
[[Image:Large-billed_Crow.jpg|thumb|550px|right|subspecies ''japonensis''<br />Photo by {{user|janha|janha}}<br />Shiba park, Tokyo, [[Japan]], December 2005 ]]
 
[[Image:Large-billed_Crow.jpg|thumb|550px|right|subspecies ''japonensis''<br />Photo by {{user|janha|janha}}<br />Shiba park, Tokyo, [[Japan]], December 2005 ]]
 
[[Image:Mandschuricus.jpg|thumb|350px|right|subspecies ''mandshuricus''<br />Photo by {{user|ilovebird|ilovebird}}<br />[[South Korea]]]]
 
[[Image:Mandschuricus.jpg|thumb|350px|right|subspecies ''mandshuricus''<br />Photo by {{user|ilovebird|ilovebird}}<br />[[South Korea]]]]
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[[Image:10256IMG 9763-800x600.jpg|thumb|350px|right|subspecies ''philippinus''<br />Photo by {{user|Romy+Ocon|Romy Ocon}}<br />Subic rainforest, Zambales province, [[Philippines]], June 2006 ]]
 
[[Image:10256IMG 9763-800x600.jpg|thumb|350px|right|subspecies ''philippinus''<br />Photo by {{user|Romy+Ocon|Romy Ocon}}<br />Subic rainforest, Zambales province, [[Philippines]], June 2006 ]]
 
;[[:Category:Corvus|Corvus]] macrorhynchos
 
;[[:Category:Corvus|Corvus]] macrorhynchos
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==Identification==
 
==Identification==
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46-59 cm. Long bill with the upper one quite thick and arched, making it look heavy. Dark greyish plumage from the back of the head, neck, shoulders and lower body. Their wings, tail, face and throat are glossy black. The depth of the grey shading varies across its range to almost black in the Indian form.
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46 - 59cm. The different subspecies differ greatly in size.
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* Long bill with the upper mandible quite thick and arched, making it look heavy. The bill size differs greatly with the subspecies.
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* ''Macrorhynchus'' with a distinctively peaked forehead, other subspecies to a lesser extent
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* Dark greyish plumage from the back of the head, neck, shoulders and lower body. Almost black in [[India]]n forms.
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* Wings, tail, face and throat are glossy black
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* Dark brown iris
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* Black legs and bill
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Sexes similar. Juveniles with less glossy plumage and a smoky blue iris.
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====Similar species====
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Very similar to [[Slender-billed Crow]]. Note the concealed culmen base in Large-billed Crow, the longer tail in flight and the more obviously fingered primaries. May also be confused with [[Carrion Crow]] and [[Common Raven]] in parts of its range.
 
==Distribution==  
 
==Distribution==  
 
Found in south and east [[Asia]].<br />
 
Found in south and east [[Asia]].<br />

Revision as of 17:35, 10 March 2010

Alternative names: Jungle Crow; Thick-billed Crow; Black Crow; Japanese Crow (japonensis, connectens, osai), Eastern Jungle Crow (levaillantii); Indian Jungle Crow (culminatus)

subspecies japonensis
Photo by janha
Shiba park, Tokyo, Japan, December 2005
subspecies mandshuricus
Photo by ilovebird
South Korea
subspecies culminatus
Photo by Dave Smith
Sri Lanka, August 2003
subspecies philippinus
Photo by Romy Ocon
Subic rainforest, Zambales province, Philippines, June 2006
Corvus macrorhynchos

Identification

46 - 59cm. The different subspecies differ greatly in size.

  • Long bill with the upper mandible quite thick and arched, making it look heavy. The bill size differs greatly with the subspecies.
  • Macrorhynchus with a distinctively peaked forehead, other subspecies to a lesser extent
  • Dark greyish plumage from the back of the head, neck, shoulders and lower body. Almost black in Indian forms.
  • Wings, tail, face and throat are glossy black
  • Dark brown iris
  • Black legs and bill

Sexes similar. Juveniles with less glossy plumage and a smoky blue iris.

Similar species

Very similar to Slender-billed Crow. Note the concealed culmen base in Large-billed Crow, the longer tail in flight and the more obviously fingered primaries. May also be confused with Carrion Crow and Common Raven in parts of its range.

Distribution

Found in south and east Asia.
From Afghanistan over the Indian Subcontinent, the Himalayas and central, south and east China to Korea, the far east of Russia to Japan. Also to Burma, Thailand, Indochina, peninsular Malaysia to Sumatra, Java, Borneo and the Sundas to Timor and Wetar. A regional form occurs on the Philippines.
Common and widespread in most of its range. Rather rare in Borneo. Records from Iran, north Afghanistan, Turkmenistan and Tajikistan are probably erroneous.

Taxonomy

There are eleven subspecies in this taxon which could be split into several species in the future:

More subspecies are proposed but usually not accepted. The taxonomy of this species is not yet solved.

Habitat

Woodland, parks and gardens. In north of range often near rivers and settlements near rivers.
Up to 2000 m in Sri Lanka, 4500m in Sikkim and 5000m in Tibet. Known to follow mountaineers as high as 6400m.

Behaviour

Feeds on carrion of all kinds. Forages along shorelines and roadsides, robs bird nests, steals food from vulture nests, kills palm-squirrels and rodents, frogs, lizards, crabs and insects. Takes also fruit, nectar and petals.
Usually seen in pairs or family parties, often associating with other birds like House Crow.
The nest is a platform of twigs, usually high up on a tree with a preference for tall conifers like Fir or Pine. There are normally 3-5 eggs laid and they are incubated for 17-19 days. The young are fledged usually by about the 35th day.
A resident species. Birds of northern populations move to the coast (ice-free river-mouths) in winter.

References

  1. Clements, JF. 2008. The Clements Checklist of Birds of the World. 6th ed., with updates to December 2008. Ithaca: Cornell Univ. Press. ISBN 978-0801445019.
  2. 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
  3. Rasmussen, PC and JC Anderton. 2005. Birds of South Asia: The Ripley Guide. Barcelona: Lynx Edicions. ISBN 978-8487334672

Recommended Citation

External Links

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