Brown-necked Raven, Raven (Corvus ruficollis)

Carrion-eating omnivorous bird, up to 48-56 cm long, wingspan 103-120 m. Adult birds have glossy black plumage, while the head, neck and underparts are bronze-coloured. Smaller than the common raven (Corvus corax), the bill is less robust and the call not so hoarse. In Macaronesia, this corvid is only found in Cape Verde, where it occupies all the islands and the islets of Rombos, Branco and Raso, but is very scarce on Sal. It is also found in neighbouring parts of continental Africa (south and east Morocco, Western Sahara and Mauritania), although its range is much wider, extending to the Middle East and other parts of Asia. It frequents mountainous regions, arable lands, the shoreline and urban centres, but particularly favours rural locations. It roosts in rocky outcrops, derelict buildings and trees, and less commonly in electricity pylons and other types of artificial installations. The breeding season in Cape Verde is from November to April, most birds tending to nest from late January to mid-March. A clutch of 4-6 eggs is laid. Occasionally it forms communal flocks to feed and to roost. As a result, flocks of up to 1,000 birds have been seen in Santiago, though currently the figure is around a few dozen. This species is endemic to Cape Verde, but numbers vary according to island. Declining populations have been recorded for the last few decades, at least on the most populated islands of São Vicente, Sal and Santiago. Conservation threats include the use of poisons in agriculture, nest predation and the reduction of arable land (e.g. on Sal).