White-necked raven

Did You Know?

• The species is associated with mountains, nesting on cliff ledges, and is often found in montane grasslands.
• It occurs in eastern and southern Africa in open, mountainous country and is common in small towns and villages near hills or mountains.
• White-necked ravens will pick up a dropped tortoise if it is not sufficiently broken.

Description

This raven has a shorter tail than the common raven and a deeper bill with a white tip, nearly as curved as the thick-billed raven’s. Its black feathers show a faint purple gloss on the throat, breast, and neck, with a large white patch on the nape. It soars with shallower wingbeats than other corvids. Its call is like the common raven’s but huskier, often compared to a raven with a sore throat, and includes a more whispering croak. Like all corvids, it can mimic sounds, though this has only been seen in captivity.

Behaviour

An omnivore, it feeds on vegetable and animal matter, mostly obtained from the ground but also from trees. It has been observed dropping tortoises onto hard ground or rocks to break them open. Carrion, fruit, grain, insects, small reptiles, peanuts, and human food are also taken, and it forages openly in back yards and gardens. After leaving their parents, young birds form flocks; once mature, they pair off and establish territories. It often associates with other scavengers like kites or vultures. Nests are bowls of sticks lined with grass, hair, and wool, built mainly on cliff ledges, occasionally in trees, with 3–5 eggs.