Cuban crow
Kingdom
Phylum
Class
Family
Genus
SPECIES
Corvus nasicus

The Cuban crow (Corvus nasicus ) is one of four species of crow that occur on islands in the Caribbean. It is closely related to the white-necked crow (C. leucognaphalus ) and Jamaican crow (C. jamaicensis ), with which it shares similar features. The fourth Caribbean crow, the palm crow (C. palmarum ), is a later arrival in evolutionary terms, and shows characteristics more akin to North American species, such as the fish crow (C. ossifragus ), which it is probably closely related to.

Appearance

A stocky, medium-sized (40–42 centimetres or 16–17 inches in length) forest crow, the bill of this species is long and deep with a gentle curve towards the tip giving a large headed profile. The nasal bristles sweep forward then upward and frequently reveal the nostrils which are hidden in almost all other members of the genus Corvus. There is a patch of dark grey bare skin behind the browinsh-red eye and at the base of the lower mandible. The black plumage has a bluish-purple gloss in good light. The bill, legs and feet are black.

Distribution

Geography

Continents
Countries
Biogeographical realms

It can be found quite commonly over most of the large island of Cuba and on the nearby Isla de la Juventud (as well as the Turks and Caicos islands) in woodland and areas that have been cleared for agriculture. It is frequently found around farms and villages where it seems to have adapted quite well to living in relatively close contact with human settlements.

Cuban crow habitat map
Cuban crow habitat map
Cuban crow
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Habits and Lifestyle

Lifestyle
Seasonal behavior
Bird's call

Diet and Nutrition

Food consists of fruit and insects though it does appear to take human food readily and will scavenge for scraps where the opportunity arises. Large noisy flocks can be seen feeding in trees and it will also readily feed on the ground especially where grain and other seeds have been spilt or left unprotected on the surface of a field.

Mating Habits

The nest is built in tall trees, though little further information about breeding is recorded as yet.

References

1. Cuban crow Wikipedia article - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cuban_crow
2. Cuban crow on The IUCN Red List site - https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/22706010/118781571
3. Xeno-canto bird call - https://xeno-canto.org/574052

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