Corvus enca
The Sunda Crow (Corvus enca), a distinctive member of the Corvidae family, presents a sleek, entirely glossy black plumage often shimmering with deep blue and purple iridescence under good light. Slightly smaller and more slender than many of its widespread crow relatives, it typically measures 40-47 cm in length. Its most notable field mark is a relatively slender, slightly decurved bill, coupled with dark irises, contrasting with the more robust beaks of species like the Large-billed Crow. ...
Primarily inhabiting lowland and hill forests, the Sunda Crow is also highly adaptable to secondary growth, plantations, cultivated areas, and coastal mangroves, found from sea level up to elevations of around 2,000 meters.
This omnivorous species feeds on a wide variety of items including large insects, grubs, small vertebrates (lizards, frogs), bird eggs, nestlings, diverse fruits (especially figs), seeds, and carrion, often foraging on the ground or within tree canopies.
Sunda Crows are diurnal and typically observed individually or in small, loose family groups, though they may gather in larger, communal roosts of up to 100 individuals outside the breeding season. They are highly opportunistic foragers, gleaning invertebrates from the ground, plucking fruits fro...
The Sunda Crow boasts an extensive and fragmented distribution across Southeast Asia, primarily encompassing the Sunda Islands, the Philippines, and Sulawesi, with isolated populations also found in the Moluccas. Its core range includes the Greater Sunda Islands (Sumatra, Borneo, Java, Bali) and ...
Least Concern
- The Sunda Crow is one of the smaller *Corvus* species, often distinguished from its larger relatives by its more slender build and proportionally smaller, less robust bill. - Despite its name, its range extends beyond the Sunda Islands to include parts of the Philippines and Sulawesi, showcasin...