Large-billed Crow
(Corvus macrorhynchos)
Description:
A medium-sized to large crow, varying much in size, long dagger-like bill with somewhat arching culmen. Lacks any contrast between head and neck/breast as in House Crow, and bill is stouter with more pronounced curve to culmen. Bigger and with heavier bill, wedge-shaped tail, and harsher calls, compared with jungle crows.
Distribution:
Common and widespread resident in all the valleys and regions of Gilgit-Baltistan. Normally in forests and woodlands, but also in open country and villages/settlements, particularly in winter. Reaching to upper limits of tree-line at 5000m.
Behavior:
Clumsily feeds among foliage and on the ground. Also follows herds of goats and sheep high into their summer pastures. Omnivorous scavenger. Takes carrion of all kinds, by foraging along shorelines and roadsides, stealing food items from vulture nests. Robs bird nests of both eggs and fledglings, feeds with vultures on animal carcasses.
Photo Gallery:
Range & Occurrence:
Distribution Map of Large-billed Crow in Gilgit-Baltistan (Status: )
Seasonal Occurrence of Large-billed Crow
Resources:
Birds of Pakistan: Helm Field Guides (R. Grimmett & T. Inskipp)
The Birds of Pakistan (T. J. Roberts)
Birds of the Indian Subcontinent (C. Inskipp, R. Grimmett & T. Inskipp)
Birds of South Asia: The Ripley Guide (P. Rasmussen & J. Anderton)
Birds of India: Collins Field Guide (N. Arlott)
Handbook of the Birds of India and Pakistan (S. Ali & S. D. Ripley)
Handbook of the Birds of the World (https://www.hbw.com)
The Clements Checklist of Birds of the World, 6th Edition
iNaturalist BoGB (inaturalist.org/projects/birds-of-gilgit-baltistan)
Birds of Gilgit-Baltistan (http://fb.me/birdsgb)
*Gallery images on this page are shared from flickr.com, and are copyrighted to their respective creators or owners.
