Bird
Pied Crow
Corvus albusAlso known as White-breasted Crow, African Pied Crow
Pied crows are highly intelligent, adaptable corvids easily recognized by their striking white chest, mantle, and collar contrasting with glossy black plumage. They thrive in close association with human settlements, often patrolling towns, rubbish dumps, and agricultural fields for food. These social birds are vocal and acrobatic, frequently performing aerial displays and cooperative foraging maneuvers.
IntelligentAdaptableVocal
—observations
—countries
—peak records
Least ConcernConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXLeast ConcernRed List categories, explained →
Diet & preyInsects, Small rodents, Carrion
Predators
- Large birds of prey
- Snakes
- Domestic cats
ThreatsPersecution as agricultural pests, secondary poisoning
HabitatsSavanna, open woodlands, agricultural areas, urban centers
Life span15 to 20 years in the wild
Classification
- FamilyCorvidae
- SpeciesCorvus albus
Range data is not available yet.
Interaction riskLow
- Low
- Moderate
- High
- Very high
- Why interaction risk is low
- Capable of delivering a strong peck if cornered or handled; observe from a respectful distance.
- Why it is dangerous
- Possesses a powerful, sharp bill capable of inflicting painful pinches or breaking skin if handled.
- How to recognize a risky encounter
- Look for the distinctive white chest and collar contrasting with a glossy black body.
- What to do
- Do not attempt to handle injured individuals without thick gloves; contact local wildlife rehabilitators.
Responsible observation
- Listen for calls: Pay attention to their deep, harsh 'argh' calls, which are distinct from European crows.
- Watch aerial play: Look up during windy afternoons to see pairs performing synchronized rolls and dives.
- Check tall structures: Scan telephone poles, pylons, and tall trees where they build bulky stick nests.
Competitor "House Crow (Corvus splendens)" by Lip Kee is licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0. To view a copy of this license, visit https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0/. · cc-by-sa
Predator (c) Christiaan Viljoen, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Christiaan Viljoen · cc-by
Close Relative (c) Shaun Swanepoel, some rights reserved (CC BY) · cc-by
Close Relative (c) Brian Gratwicke, some rights reserved (CC BY) · cc-by
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