Chihuahuan Raven

Corvus cryptoleucus

Order PASSERIFORMES - Family CORVIDAE

Menu

1. Cool Facts
2. Description
3. Similar Species
4. Sound
5. Range
6. Habitat
7. Food
8. Behavior
9. Reproduction
10. Conservation Status
11. Other Names

A big black bird of the southwestern deserts, the Chihuahuan Raven is intermediate between crows and ravens in many ways. It has the shape of a raven but is the size of a crow.

Cool Facts

• The nest of the Chihuahuan Raven usually is made primarily of twigs. The thorny twigs of mesquite trees are frequently used. Occasionally the raven will make a nest mostly of wire strands, but it will still use soft materials to line the cup.
• Unlike most crows, the Chihuahuan Raven frequently reuses its nest in subsequent years. Some pairs may maintain two nests and use them in alternate years.

• The bases of neck and body feathers of a Chihuahuan Raven are white, not gray like those of other American crows and ravens. The white is difficult to see in the field, and is only revealed by wind blowing the feathers, or when a bird fluffs its feathers to display at another raven. Although this coloration is unique in North America, a number of other crows and ravens around the world have white bases to their feathers.

Description

• Size: 46-53 cm (18-21 in)
• Wingspan: 104-110 cm (41-43 in)
• Weight: 380-670 g (13.41-23.65 ounces)

• Large all-black bird.
• Tail pointed in middle.
• Large black bill.

• Relatively long, slightly curved bill.
• Nasal feathers extend for half or more of bill length.
• Long, graduated or wedge-shaped tail.
• Long pointed wings with obvious separation of primaries while soaring.
• Elongated throat feathers.
• All feathers black glossed with violet.
• Bases of body feathers white (rarely visible).
• Eyes dark brown.
• Legs black.

Sex Differences

Sexes alike, male slightly larger.

Immature

Juvenile similar to adult, but head feathers not glossy and more fluffy, inside of mouth red. Immature with wing and tail feathers becoming brownish.

Similar Species

• American Crow smaller, has rounded or square tail, and very different voice.
• Common Raven is larger, has a longer bill with shorter nasal bristles, a lower voice, and gray, not white, bases to the body feathers.

Sound

Call a loud, harsh "quark, quark."

»listen to songs of this species

Range

Summer Range

Resident from southeastern Colorado and western Kansas to Arizona, Texas, and northern Mexico.

Winter Range

Winter range similar, but more extensive than breeding range. In some years retreats from portions of the breeding range.

Habitat

Dry, open grassland with scattered trees and shrubs, and unbroken desert scrub.

Food

Omnivorous. Large insects, cultivated grains, carrion, eggs, young birds, fruits, lizards, small mammals, garbage.

Behavior

Foraging

Scans for food while perched or soaring, catches food on the ground. Holds items under its feet to peck them apart.

Reproduction

Nest Type

Open cup of sticks with softer lining, such as wool, fur, cotton, paper, rope, tree bark, grass, or yucca fibers. Usually placed in low tree or on human-made structure, such as machinery, building, or utility pole.

Egg Description

Green to blue with blotches and streaks of brown.

Clutch Size

Usually 5-6 eggs. Range: 1-8.

Condition at Hatching

Helpless with tufts of down.

Conservation Status

Populations appear stable.

Other Names

Corbeau à cou blanc (French)
Cuervo llanero (Spanish)
White-necked Raven (English)

Sources used to construct this page:

Bednarz, J. C., and R. J. Raitt. 2002. Chihuahuan Raven (Corvus cryptoleucus). In The Birds of North America, No. 606 (A. Poole and F. Gill, eds.). The Birds of North America, Inc., Philadelphia, PA.