Corvus albus
The Pied Crow, *Corvus albus*, is a striking and intelligent corvid instantly recognizable by its distinctive black and white plumage, a feature unique among African crows. Measuring approximately 46-52 cm (18-20 inches) in length with a wingspan of 90-100 cm (35-39 inches) and weighing 500-700 grams (1.1-1.5 pounds), its head, throat, wings, and tail are glossy black, contrasting sharply with a broad white collar and breast, extending to the lower breast and belly. This piebald pattern is th...
Pied Crows are highly adaptable and thrive in open country, savannas, cultivated lands, coastal areas, and particularly human-modified environments like towns and cities, from sea level up to moderate elevations of 2,500 meters (8,200 feet).
This omnivorous scavenger consumes a wide array of food, including insects, small vertebrates (reptiles, amphibians, rodents), eggs, nestlings, fruits, seeds, carrion, and a significant amount of human refuse.
Pied Crows are predominantly diurnal, active from dawn to dusk, often congregating in large communal roosts at night, sometimes numbering in the thousands. Their foraging strategies are highly opportunistic and varied, involving scavenging on carrion, raiding nests for eggs and chicks, hawking in...
The Pied Crow boasts an extensive range across sub-Saharan Africa, stretching from Senegal and Mauritania in the west, through the Sahel belt to Sudan, Eritrea, and Somalia in the east. Its distribution continues southwards throughout East Africa, Central Africa, and Southern Africa, reaching as ...
Least Concern
- Pied Crows are known for their remarkable intelligence and problem-solving abilities, often seen manipulating objects to obtain food. - They have been observed using "tools," such as dropping stones or hard-shelled nuts from a height to crack them open. - Their diet is incredibly varied; they'v...