Little Crow
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See also Little Crow (disambiguation)
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| Corvus bennetti North, 1901 |
The Little Crow (Corvus bennetti) is an Australian species of crow, very similar to the Torresian Crow in having white bases to the neck and head feathers (shown when ruffled in strong wind) but slightly smaller (42-48 cm in length) and with a proportionately smaller bill. It has the same white iris that distinguish the Australian species from all other Corvus except a few island species to the north of Australia, and one from Eurasia, the Jackdaw (Corvus monedula). Like the Australian Raven, this species usually has a blue ring around the pupil and sometimes one around the very outer edge of the white iris too.
It ranges over western and central Australia, often inhabiting very dry, near desert areas. It frequents small country towns and cultivated areas, where its flocks have reminded people of the European Rook.
Its food is mainly taken from the ground and includes insects, grain and other seeds. It is less of a scavenger or carrion feeder than the other Australian species.
It usually nests in small, loose colonies, building stick nests lined with mud (the only Australian species to do this).
Its voice is a "nark-nark-nark-nark". It also has a more typical crow-like "kah-kah-kah" call.
Image links
- Little Crow 1 (http://members.iinet.net.au/~foconnor/birds/photos/little_crow_1.jpg)
- Little Crow 2 (http://www.viridans.com/birdpics/691amc2.jpg)
- Little crow series (http://www.dwpicture.com.au/search.asp?look_for=crow)
