Alternative names: White-necked Raven; American White-necked Raven
- Corvus cryptoleucus
Identification
Length: 48-53cm (19-21"), Wing span: 112cm (44"), Weight: 530gm (1.2 lb).
- Black plumage with purple blue gloss
- Long rictal bristles
- White-based neck feathers
- Dark brown iris
- Stout black bill, black legs and feet
Sexes similar, juveniles duller than adults.
Similar species
Smaller than Common Raven which has grey-based neck feathers and a more wedge-shaped tail.
Distribution
Southwest states of the USA to central Mexico.
Fairly common.
Taxonomy
This is a monotypic species.
DNA analyses have shown that this species is closely related to the Californian clade of Common Raven and has been isolated from them ca. 1 million years ago.
Habitat
Arid grasslands, plains, and desert grassland.
Found from sea-level up to 2400m.
Behaviour
The diet includes grains, insects, invertebrates, small reptiles, carrion, cactus fruits, eggs and nestlings. Often forages in flocks of up to 200 birds.
Breeding season April to June. Their nest is built from twigs, placed either in trees or large shrubs; 5-7 eggs are laid.
Movements poorly known but mainl sedentary.
Vocalisation
Call: a loud, harsh quark, quark.
References
- 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.
- 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
Recommended Citation
- BirdForum Opus contributors. (2024) Chihuahuan Raven. In: BirdForum, the forum for wild birds and birding. Retrieved 27 May 2024 from https://www.birdforum.net/opus/Chihuahuan_Raven
