Pied Crow Corvus albus
Nairobi, Kenya. June 2005 and November 2006

The Pied Crow is Africa’s most widespread corvid, occuring from Sub-Saharan Africa down to the Cape of Good Hope (though it’s absent from the tropical rainforest regions) and also the islands of Madagascar, the Comoros, Aldabra, Zanzibar, Pemba and Fernando Po. It inhabits mainly open country with villages and towns nearby, but is also at home in some of Africa’s larger cities - as shown here in Nairobi. All these photos were taken around the Intercontinental Hotel in Nairobi city centre on two separate dates (November - first four images, June - last three images).

Though about the size of a European Carrion Crow Corvus corone, the Pied Crow does seem structurally more “raven-like” (particularly overhead in flight) with broad wings, throat hackles, and a heavy bill: there is a suggestion that they may perhaps prove to be a modern day link (along with the Somali Crow) between the Eurasian Crows and the Northern Ravens. It is somewhat similar to the much larger and short-tailed White-necked Raven - which is Buzzard-sized - but the Pied Crow has (amongst other differences) white underparts.

 

 

 

 

---

 

 

 

 

---

 

White-necked Raven Corvus albicollis. Cape Town, September 2006.

All photos copyright Charlie Moores