Corvus torquatus
Also known as the
Ring-necked Crow or
White-collared Crow
Size: - 50cm/20"
Call: A loud "kaaar" repeated several times with other slight variations on it to suit the occasion.
It also like many other corvids, utters strange clipping and clicking sounds during its head bowing display to another bird.
Status: Resident
Range: Basically China, covering large areas of the country though not further north than Beijing.
It occurs in plains and low lying river valleys in fairly open country and cultivated regions and is a common sight in paddy fields.
It tends to avoid large towns and cities and is predominantly a rural species.
Food: Food is sought mainly on the ground where a large range of items are taken, such as insects, mollusks and other invertebrates (even from shallow water), grains, especially rice and it also searches among refuse for suitable food items left by humans. It appears to take less carrion than other species but will if the opportunity arises, and will also take eggs and nestlings.
Breeding: December to April. Smallish stick nest plastered with mud in a tree. There are usually 3-4 eggs laid.
It is about the same size or slightly larger than the Carrion Crow (C. corone), with proportionately slightly longer wings, tail and bill. It has glossy black plumage except for the back of the neck, upper back (mantle), and a broad band around the lower breast that is white. The bill, legs and feet are black.
It sometimes flies with its feet hanging down below the body in a characteristically "lazy" way.
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