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| Grey crow | |
|---|---|
Scientific classification | |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Aves |
| Order: | Passeriformes |
| Family: | Corvidae |
| Genus: | Corvus |
| Species: | C. tristis |
| Binomial name | |
| Corvus tristis | |
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| Distribution map | |
Thegray crow (Corvus tristis), formerly known as thebare-faced crow, is about the same size (42–45 cm in length) as theEurasiancarrion crow (Corvus corone) but has somewhat different proportions and quite atypicalfeather pigmentation during the juvenile phase for a member of this genus.
The tail feathers are relatively long and graduated and the legs are relatively short. The overall colouring of the adult bird is black with randomly bleached wing and tail feathers. A large region around the eye is quite bare of feathering and shows pinkish-white skin with the eyes a bluish-white. The bill is unusual too in being very variable, bluish on uppermandible and pinkish-white on the lower in some specimens, while on others the whole bill is pinkish white with a darker tip. The forward pointing nasal bristles so often prominent in other Corvusspecies are very reduced also.
The juvenile bird by comparison has remarkably pale plumage being light brown to cream, the wings, tail and primaries showing blackish-brown and fawn and the head and underparts often almost white.
The species occurs all over the hugeisland ofNew Guinea and associated offshore islands in both primary and secondaryforest in both lowland and hill forest up to 1350 m.
Feeding is both on the ground and intrees taking a very wide range of items.Fruit seems to be very important making up a large percentage of the intake though smallanimals such asfrogs andaquaticinsectlarvae are taken from shallow water on sand or shingle beds in rivers. When foraging through the trees thebirds keep loose, noisy contact with each other and usually number between 4–8 individuals.
The voice is described as a weak sounding 'ka' or a whining 'caw' with other hoarse soundingnotes added when excited.
