Bird Guide

Cape Crow vs White-necked Raven

Cape Crow (Corvus capensis)

Cape Crow

Corvus capensis

Large553 gGrassland

Voice: The voice is described as a krrah.....krrah.....krrah or a quicker kah-kah-kah. It also makes very loud, liquid bubbling sounds that carry quite a distance; it also gives throaty chuckles. Some evidence indicates that vocal mimicry is practised, too.

ID text from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0

Photo: Diego Rubolini · CC BY 4.0
White-necked Raven (Corvus albicollis)

White-necked Raven

Corvus albicollis

Large894 gRocky

The white-necked raven has a much shorter tail than the common raven, as well as a deeper bill with a white tip that is almost as strongly arched as that of the thick-billed raven. Though predominantly black, the throat, breast and neck show a faint purple gloss. There is a large patch of white feathers on the nape of the neck. It soars well, with shallower wingbeats than other Corvidae. Voice: Often described as a raven with a sore throat, it has very similar calls to the common raven, but with a more husky note. It has a croak like the other raven species but with a more whispering note. Like all corvids, the White-necked raven is capable of vocal mimicry. However, this behavior is only ever recorded in captivity.

ID text from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0

Photo: biogeek · CC BY 4.0

Where you might meet both

Learn this pair in the BeakBrain App

Photo and call practice. Coming soon to iPhone and Android.

Play today's Daily Bird

Photos and recordings are credited to their authors under the licence shown. Full profiles: Cape Crow and White-necked Raven.