Bismarck Crow - BirdForum Opus

Alternative name: Island Crow

Corvus insularis

Identification

40 - 41cm (15¾-16 in)

• Plumage glossy black
• Iris pale blue
• Stout, massive black bill.
• Short tail
• Base of the head and neck feathers snow white (in hand)

Sexes similar, juveniles are duller than adults.

Distribution

Endemic to the Bismarck Archipelago (Papua New Guinea).
Common.

Taxonomy

This is a monotypic species.
It was formerly considered conspecific with Torresian Crow or sometimes regarded as subspecies of Bougainville Crow.

Habitat

Rainforest edges, open forests and woodlands, taller scrublands, beaches, along watercourses with tall timber.

Behaviour

Feeds mainly on grain, invertebrates, small birds, fish, carrion, eggs, nestlings, fruit and occasionally nectar. Forages mainly along the ground.
No information about breeding.
Resident species.

References

1. Clements, J. F., T. S. Schulenberg, M. J. Iliff, D. Roberson, T. A. Fredericks, B. L. Sullivan, and C. L. Wood. 2016. The eBird/Clements checklist of birds of the world: v2016, with updates to August 2016. Downloaded from http://www.birds.cornell.edu/clementschecklist/download/
2. 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
3. Simpson, K and N Day. 1998. Field Guide to the Birds of Australia. London: Christopher Helm. ISBN 0-7136-4877-5
4. birdforum thread containing among others a link to a paper stating that Bismark Crow should be a full species

• List of references

Recommended Citation

• BirdForum Opus contributors. (2025) Bismarck Crow. In: BirdForum, the forum for wild birds and birding. Retrieved 1 May 2025 from https://www.birdforum.net/opus/Bismarck_Crow

External Links

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