Benevolent ID Challenge: Black Bird of Mystery
By Mike • January 20, 2010 • 5 commentsI give up! Readers of this blog are simply TOO gifted in the arena of avian identification. Corey can continue to try to stump you. I, on the other hand, will attempt to harness your wicked powers of perspicacity for good!
For example, following is a photo submitted by reader Jesse Boone of Atlanta, GA. Jesse snapped this shot a couple of years ago but never determined what kind of bird was in the photo. Can you?
(If this turns out to be too tough for you, I might be willing to let you know where the photo was taken!)
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http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Thick-billed-Ravens.jpg
I’d say that looks pretty good for an ID, but there are other white-necked and/or thick-billed Corvus species so I’d want to double-check the Corvidae family guide first.
Thick-billed Raven looks good to me too.
White-naped Raven has a smaller bill, and the white patch is positioned slightly lower.
I’d guess Jesse took the photo in Ethiopia.
The vegetation might have been a clue — but it’s ambiguous. The bird is perched in a eucalyptus tree, but it’s not an Australasian species. However, eucalyptus is widely planted in the highlands of eastern Africa.
Yes, it was taken in the highlands of Ethiopia. I was there on a medical missionary trip and snapped pictures of several interesting birds while I was there.
Jesse
Certainly a thick-billed raven (Corvus crassirostris).
You guys are good!