Corvus orru

General description: 

The Torresian Crow is a large glossy black crow with short throat hackles (feathers). The feathers of the head and neck have white bases. The eye is white with a fine blue eye-ring. Immature birds are duller black with a brown eye. When landing, this species characteristically shuffles its wings. It will be seen outside breeding season in large flocks. It has also been called the Australian Crow.

Conservation status: 

Not Threatened

Diagnostic description: 

The Torresian Crow is a large glossy black crow with short throat hackles (feathers). The feathers of the head and neck have white bases. The eye is white with a fine blue eye-ring. Immature birds are duller black with a brown eye. When landing, this species characteristically shuffles its wings. It will be seen outside breeding season in large flocks. It has also been called the Australian Crow.

Size: 

48-50 cm, 550 g

Phylogeny: 

Taxonomy: Corvus orru Bonaparte, 1850, Lobo, Triton Bay, New Guinea. Until recently considered conspecific with C. insularis. Australian race cecilae formerly regarded as a separate species. Has been suggested that latirostris might not belong with present species. Other proposed races in Australia are hartogi (described from Dirk Hartog I, off Western Australia) and probleema (from Derby, in N Western Australia), both considered synonyms of ceciliae, and queenslandicus (from Dawson R, in Queensland), which possibly valid but further study required. (source: Handbook of the Birds of World)

Distribution: 

Subspecies and Distribution:

    * orru Bonaparte, 1850 - Moluccas E to New Guinea, including D'Entrecasteaux Is and Louisiade Archipelago. * latirostris A. B. Meyer, 1884 - Babar and Tanimbar Is (E of Lesser Sundas). * cecilae Mathews, 1912 - W, C & N Australia, including major offshore islands.
Habitat: 

Is found on rainforest fringes, in open forests and woodlands, taller scrublands, beaches and in dry areas, along watercourses with tall timber. It is also found around farms and in croplands. It requires tall trees for nesting.

Trophic strategy: 

Eats the most grain, compared with other corvids, but will also eat fruit, insects and other invertebrates, eggs, garbage and carrion (dead animals). Often seen feeding along roads. Perches on the heads of crop plants or on tall artificial structures.

Reproduction: 

The Torresian Crow forms monogamous breeding pairs that maintain a permanent territory. Both sexes build the nest, which is a bowl of sticks lined with grass, placed high in a tree (over 10 m) or artificial structure. The Torresian Crow's nest is made of finer material than the other corvid species'. Both parents share feeding duties. November-February

Taxonomic name: 
Scratchpads developed and conceived by (alphabetical): Ed Baker, Katherine Bouton Alice Heaton Dimitris Koureas, Laurence Livermore, Dave Roberts, Simon Rycroft, Ben Scott, Vince Smith