Alternative names: New Guinea Crow (orru); Papuan Crow (orru); Tanimbar Crow (latirostris); Island Crow (insularis)
- Corvus orru
Includes: Bismarck Crow; Australian Crow
Identification
48 - 53cm, insularis 40 - 41cm.
- Plumage glossy black
- Iris white, pale blue in West Papua and Tanimbar and in insularis
- Stout, black bill. Insularis has a massive bill.
- Short tail
- Base of the head and neck feathers snow white (in hand)
Sexes similar, juveniles are duller than adults.
Similar species
Slightly smaller than Australian Raven and Little Raven. More heavy built, broader and squarer tail than Little Crow.
Distribution
North and west Australia, New Guinea, the Moluccas and New Britain.
Generally abundant and widespread.
Taxonomy
Polytypic. Consists of four subspecies:
- C. o. orru from the Moluccas to New Guinea
- C. o. latirostris on Babar and Tanimbar Islands
- C. o. cecilae in Australia
- C. o. insularis on New Britain, New Ireland and New Hanover
Insularis is now split by some authorities as Bismarck Crow, Corvus insularis. Others regard it as subspecies of Bougainville Crow.
Cecilae was formerly regarded as distinctive species, Australian Crow.
Habitat
Rainforest edges, open forests and woodlands, taller scrublands, beaches, along watercourses with tall timber, farms and croplands.
Behaviour
Feeds mainly on grain, invertebrates, small birds, fish, carrion, eggs, nestlings, fruit and occasionally nectar. Forages mainly along the ground.
Breeding recorded in all months in Australia. Both sexes build a stick nest lined with grass in a tall tree and 2-4 eggs are laid. Both sexes feed the young.
Resident species.
References
- Clements, JF. 2008. The Clements Checklist of Birds of the World. 6th ed., with updates to December 2008. Ithaca: Cornell Univ. Press. ISBN 978-0801445019.
- Del Hoyo, J, A Elliott, and D Christie, eds. 2009. Handbook of the Birds of the World. Volume 14: Bush-shrikes to Old World Sparrows. Barcelona: Lynx Edicions. ISBN 978-8496553507
- Simpson, K and N Day. 1998. Field Guide to the Birds of Australia. London: Christopher Helm. ISBN 0-7136-4877-5
Recommended Citation
- BirdForum Opus contributors. (2024) Torresian Crow. In: BirdForum, the forum for wild birds and birding. Retrieved 7 May 2024 from https://www.birdforum.net/opus/Torresian_Crow
