Ethiopian Bushcrow
Zavattariornis stresemanni
The Ethiopian Bushcrow (Zavattariornis stresemanni) is a legendary crows, jays, and magpi found only in Ethiopia, weighing about 108 g. The Ethiopian bushcrow, also known as the Stresemann's bushcrow, Abyssinian pie, bush crow, or by its generic name Zavattariornis, is a rather starling-like bird, which is a member of the crow family, Corvidae.
About the Ethiopian Bushcrow
The Ethiopian bushcrow, also known as the Stresemann's bushcrow, Abyssinian pie, bush crow, or by its generic name Zavattariornis, is a rather starling-like bird, which is a member of the crow family, Corvidae. It is slightly larger than the North American blue jay and is a bluish-grey in overall colour which becomes almost white on the forehead. The throat and chest are creamy-white with the tail and wings a glossy black. The black feathers have a tendency to bleach to brown at their tips. The iris of the bird is brown and the eye is surrounded by a band of naked bright blue skin. The bill, legs, and feet are black.
Text adapted from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
How to identify it
The Ethiopian bushcrow is about 28 centimetres (11 in) long and weighs 130 grams (4.6 oz). The sexes look similar and are not sexually dimorphic. Overall it is pale grey with a black tail and wings. The head, mantle, scapulars, back, rump, and uppertail coverts are all a pale grey. The feathers on the forehead, upper ear-coverts, and throat fade into white. The bright azure skin around the bushcrow's eye is featherless and can be inflated, narrowing the blackish-brown eye into a slit. The feathers behind the eye are capable of moving to reveal an oblong pink patch of skin.
Where it lives
When to see it
Best months: January, February, March, April, October, November, December, with peak activity in December. It is a winter visitor species across most of its range.
Easily confused with
Quick questions
- How do you identify an Ethiopian Bushcrow?
- The Ethiopian bushcrow is about 28 centimetres (11 in) long and weighs 130 grams (4.6 oz). Full identification notes are on this page.
- How big is an Ethiopian Bushcrow?
- The Ethiopian Bushcrow is a medium sized bird weighing about 108 g.
- Where can you see an Ethiopian Bushcrow?
- The Ethiopian Bushcrow is endemic to Ethiopia, which is the only country where it occurs.
- What birds look similar to an Ethiopian Bushcrow?
- The Ethiopian Bushcrow is most easily confused with the White-throated Jay, the Flores Crow and the Mariana Crow.
- Is the Ethiopian Bushcrow endangered?
- The Ethiopian Bushcrow is listed as Endangered on the IUCN Red List.
Learn the Ethiopian Bushcrow for real
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