Violet Crow Corvus violaceus Scientific name definitions

40–43 cm. Rather slender crow, medium-sized and has mid-length slightly graduated tail, forecrown slightly peaked, culmen decurved, inconspicuous throat hackles; in flight relatively broad, blunt wings and relatively short square-tipped tail. Adult has matt black hood extending to lower throat and nape; rest of plumage blue-black with mauve sheen, latter most obvious on wings; iris dark brown, tiny area of bare black skin behind eye and narrowly encircling latter; bill fairly long and deep, culmen gently decurving throughout its length, black; legs black. Sexes alike. Juvenile lacks mauve sheen of adult.

Seram and Ambon, possibly also Buru, in S Moluccas.

Forest and forest edge, also plantations; will move to semi-open areas, such as farmland, to forage. Sea-level to 1000 m, but below 1800 m; one recorded at 1400 m on Gunung Binaiya (C Seram) in 2012 (3 Reeve, A. H., T. Haryoko, M. K. Poulsen, P.-H. Fabre, and K. A. Jønsson (2014). New ornithological records from Buru and Seram, south Maluku, Indonesia, 1995–2012. Forktail 30:10–22. Close ).

Little known. Presumably omnivorous, feeding on fruits as well as on various invertebrates; general diet probably very similar to that of C. enca. On Seram, reported as flocking to feed on fields of ripening maize (Zea mays). Forages on ground but more commonly in trees, mainly in midstorey and canopy. Forages singly, in pairs and sometimes in small groups.

Calls  include a simple slightly metallic nasal bark, singly or repeated once or twice, and a somewhat trumpeting “erk”. Distinctive vocalizations include a short high-pitched “rah” and a nasal mewing “nyeh”.

Very little information. Eggs found in Jun on Seram, described as white with sparse yellowish-brown speckling. Other details probably much as for C. enca.

Not globally threatened (Least Concern). Uncommon or fairly uncommon throughout range. No estimates of this species’ global population have been made, but it is believed not to be currently at any significant risk. Habitat destruction could pose a serious threat, but as yet this appears not to be too serious a problem. Field studies aimed at assessing the size of the population, followed by subsequent regular monitoring, would seem to be desirable.