Corvus tristis
The Grey Crow, or Bare-faced Crow, is a distinctive medium-sized corvid endemic to the island of New Guinea. Measuring approximately 50-55 cm in length and weighing around 600-700 grams, its plumage is a glossy, iridescent black, often appearing deep purple or blue in good light. Its most striking feature is the extensive bare, pinkish-white skin patch that covers the face, extending from the eye to the base of its unique pale, whitish-horn colored bill, contrasting sharply with its dark feat...
Inhabits primary lowland and hill rainforests, often frequenting forest edges and areas near rivers. Typically found from sea level up to 1,350 meters, occasionally reaching higher elevations.
Primarily omnivorous, their diet consists heavily of fruit, particularly figs, supplemented with large insects, spiders, small reptiles, and occasionally the eggs and nestlings of other birds. Forages mainly in the forest canopy, gleaning from branches and leaves.
Grey Crows are often observed in pairs or small family groups, occasionally forming larger, loose aggregations at abundant food sources, such as fruiting trees. Their foraging strategy primarily involves gleaning fruits and invertebrates from the rainforest canopy, though they will descend to low...
The Grey Crow is endemic to the island of New Guinea, encompassing both Indonesian Papua (formerly Irian Jaya) and Papua New Guinea, as well as several satellite islands such as Yapen, Salawati, and Batanta. It is widely distributed across the main island, favoring the vast lowland and hill rainf...
Least Concern
- The Grey Crow is often referred to as the 'Bare-faced Crow' due to its unique, unfeathered facial skin patch. - Its vocalizations are considered among the most un-crow-like of all corvids, sounding more like a large cuckoo or a bird-of-paradise than a typical crow. - Unlike most crow species, w...