Brown-necked Raven

Brown-necked Raven (Corvus ruficollis) has a wide range across North Africa, down to Kenya, the Arabian peninsula and up into the Middle East and southern Iran.

Brown-necked Distribution Map

It inhabits a predominantly desert environment visiting oases and palm groves.

Description

The Brown-necked Raven measures 52 – 56 cm in length. The head and throat are a distinct brownish-black, while the rest of the plumage is black glossed with purple, blue or purplish-blue. The feathers of this species often fade quite quickly to a brownish black or true black, and it can look distinctly brown by the time it moults. The feet, legs and bill are black.

It is larger than the Carrion Crow, but not as large as the Common Raven. It looks similar to the common raven but the bill is not so large or deep and the wings tend to be a little more pointed in profile.

Diet / Feeding

Its diet consists of carrion, snakes, locusts and other grasshoppers, stranded fish (in coastal areas), grain stolen from bags, dates and other fruits.

Breeding / Nesting

The nest is very much like the Common Raven’s, and may be found in trees, on cliffs or in old and ruined buildings. There are usually 4-5 eggs laid and incubated over 20-22 days. The young usually leave the nest by the 37th or 38th day and can fly well by 42-45 days.

Calls / Vocalizations

Its voice is said to be very similar to the Common Raven‘s consisting mostly of croaks, though higher in pitch; and a harsh “karr-karr-karr” very much like a Carrion Crow too. In flight, it utters a “kuerk-kuerk” call.

Crow InformationRaven Information PagePhotos of Raven Species for Identification

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Gordon Ramel

Gordon is an ecologist with two degrees from Exeter University. He's also a teacher, a poet and the owner of 1,152 books. Oh - and he wrote this website.

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