White-necked Raven

White-necked Raven, Brandvlei, South Africa, July 2005
Photo: Don Roberson

 

White-necked Raven
Corvus albicollis, Corvus albicilla, da. Hvidhalset Ravn

The White-necked Raven, Corvus albicollis, is somewhat smaller (50-54 cm in length) than the Common Raven or indeed its nearest relative, the Thick-billed Raven C. crassirostris.

It has a much shorter tail and a deeper bill with a white tip that is strongly arched (almost as much as the Thick-billed Raven). Though predominantly black, the throat, breast and neck are a blackish-brown in colour, with a faint purple gloss. There is a large patch of white feathers on the back of the lower neck.

Soars well with shallower wingbeats than other Corvidae.

Length 50 - 54 cm
Wing 376 - 430 mm
Weight 762 - 865 gr

Voice
Often described as a raven with a sore throat, it has very similar calls to the Common Raven, but with a more husky note. It has a croak like the raven but with a more whispering note added.

Distribution and habitat
occurs in eastern and southern Africa in open, mountainous country. It is quite commonly found in small towns and villages as long as there are mountains or hills for roosting and nesting relatively nearby.

Behaviour
Most of this birds food is obtained from the ground, but it will take food from trees also. It has been seen to drop a tortoise from a height on to hard ground, preferably on rocks, and then swoop down to eat it, or even pick it up again if not sufficiently broken. White-necked Ravens will also readily take carrion from road kills. Fruit, grain, insects, small reptiles, peanuts and human food are also readily taken and if not persecuted, will forage in back yards and gardens quite openly.

Often in the company of other scavengers such as kites or vultures.

Nests are a bowl of sticks lined with grass hair and wool found mainly on a cliff ledge but will occasionally nest in a tree. There are usually 3-5 eggs laid.

ref.:
White-necked Raven (Wikipedia)

White-necked Raven (Google)

Corvus albicollis (White-necked Raven) (Google Pics)

White-necked Raven (YouTube)

 

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Geierrabe (Corvus albicollis), White-necked Raven, da. Hvidhalset Ravn

eng. White-necked Raven in Berlin Zoo, September 2011. Note the white colour on the tip of its beak.
da. Geierrabe med den typiske hvide nakke. Bemærk også de lyse næbspidser.

large pic.

Eng.: You'll find the White-necked Raven in Eastern and Southern Africa, where it feeds on the same diet as Common Raven. Furthermore, it is feeding on man-made waste.

Da.: Geierrabe, den hvidhalsede ravn, hører hjemme i det østlige og sydlige Afrika. Her lever den på samme måde som vores hjemlige Ravn (Corvus corax) af alskens ting og sager, f.eks. insekter, mus, rotter og frugt. Desuden tager den for sig af retterne på de menneskeskabte affaldspladser.

Geierrabe tavle

Geierrabe

The voice (Corvus albicollis)

 

 

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Have you got any comment, please mail:

Sincerely
Kurt Starlit
aka CykelKurt

 

 

 

 

 

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