White-necked raven

The white-necked raven, a captivating bird native to eastern and southern Africa, is slightly smaller than its more renowned relative, the common raven. You can identify it by its shorter tail, a distinctively deep bill tipped with white, and a patch of white feathers on its neck. This bird is quite the aerial acrobat, celebrated for its impressive soaring capabilities and shallower wingbeats compared to other members of the Corvidae family.

Focusing on specifics: the white-necked raven measures between 50 and 54 cm in length, boasts a wingspan ranging from 75.2 to 86 cm, and weighs between 762 and 865 grams.

In terms of vocalization, this raven’s calls resemble those of the common raven but with a huskier tone. Notably, it is also capable of mimicking sounds, a behavior primarily observed in captivity.

Typically, you can find the white-necked raven in open, mountainous regions of eastern and southern Africa. They also inhabit small towns and villages, favoring areas with nearby mountains or hills for roosting and nesting.

Regarding their diet, these ravens are quite adaptable. They forage primarily on the ground but also in trees, consuming a variety of food including carrion, fruit, grain, insects, and even human food. One of their more unique feeding behaviors involves dropping tortoises from heights to crack them open.

White-necked ravens generally form flocks after leaving their parents, but upon reaching maturity, they pair off and establish their own territories. Their nests are constructed from sticks and lined with grass, hair, and wool. These nests are often situated on cliff ledges or occasionally in trees, with a typical clutch comprising 3 to 5 eggs.