Bold Common Familiar
To-date I have never heard anyone say the crows or ravens are shy, in fact too intelligent for their own good sometimes. Arrive with attitude, upset farmers in many cases, not shy to stop in enjoying a little bling or your tasty morsel. Here are some I have seen normally two or more at a time, appears they feel safety in numbers!
White-necked raven (Corvus albicollis) native to eastern and southern Africa, smaller than the common raven, its closest relative being the thick-billed raven. Normally pair off to form territories once adult, often found keeping company with other scavenger birds like kites or vultures. Finds food on the ground, in trees eating almost anything it sees. Wingspan of up to 1.5 meters (4'11").
Striding along a pathway at Mount Champagne, Central Drakensberg as if telling everyone to stay away.
Not a clear photo showing the heavy bill/beak of white-necked raven.
Pied crow (Corvus albus) distributed throughout Africa, looks similar to white-necked and thick-billed ravens, smaller in bill size only notable difference. Medium-sized 45cm (18") in length, black feathers white patches on wings and tail.
Sighting at iSimangaliso Wetlands Park on our North Coast of KwaZulu- Natal.
Beach front braai facility at St Lucia, North Coast KwaZulu-Natal, nibbling off whatever they could find.
Cape crow or black crow (Corvus capensis) size simlar to Pied crow, range Sub-Saharan Africa. Omnivorous as are most corvidae bird species.
Stepping out on the golf course at Drakensberg Gardens Resort in Southern Drakensberg.
Distribution and habitat
It has two separate populations - one in East Africa and the other from Angola to southern Africa. Here it is common in Zimbabwe, Botswana, Namibia and South Africa, largely absent from the Kalahari and Mozambique. It generally favours open habitats with scattered trees, such as open savanna woodland and grassland, but it is also common in semi arid shrubland, alien plantations and farmlands. Corvidae - Convus Capensis
Regular fly-by past our home periodically down to the beach, not the best photograph as they always zip past at high speed.
According to some research South Africa has ravens and not crows however this does not exclude them from the Corvid family which is the requirement of this contest. Being so similar sometimes only the bill or feathers will indicate which one you looking at in the moment, most refer to them as crows!
South Africa may not have the variety shared in other parts of the world, we do tend to see those we have being medium sized standing out in their black uniformed approach to life.
Thanks for visiting Feathered Friends, Entry to #SMAP No. 107 Contest with host @nelinoeva CORVIDAE
Feathered Friends Community gratitude to @melinda010100 for sponsoring the contest. Our talented artist @barbara-orenya for on-going creative support.
All photography is my own, taken at various destinations.
Thought for Today: "When a bird builds its nest it uses the feathers of other birds." - African Proverb
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