Piping Crow Corvus typicus Scientific name definitions

35–40 cm; c. 175 g. Unmistakable small pied crow with short tail almost square at tip, medium-length bill with gently curved culmen, nasal bristles conspicuous but culmen ridge bare to base, throat feathers almost hair-like in texture. Head and upper nape are black, glossed bluish-purple, throat dull brownish-black; lower nape, side of neck, upper mantle and underparts to belly white, bases of neck feathers dark grey; lower mantle greyish-black to brownish-black, rest of upperparts, including upperwing and tail, black with blue and purple gloss, lower belly and tibia feathering dull greyish-black or brownish-black; iris dull reddish-brown, tiny patch of bare skin behind eye; bill and legs black. Sexes similar, but female has more diffuse line of demarcation between blackish throat and white breast. Juvenile has white of collar and underparts sullied with greyish-brown.

C & S Sulawesi and smaller islands of Muna, Butung, Wowoni and Kabaena.

Tall secondary and primary tropical forests, both in lowlands and in hills, ascending to 1600 m in NC Sulawesi and 2150 m in S Sulawesi. Forages at forest edge and clearings and locally amid stands of riverine rainbow eucalyptus (Eucalyptus deglupta).

Sedentary.

Various small invertebrates and their larvae; also small fruits, such as figs (Ficus). Sociable; typically forages in noisy parties of 4–10 individuals, working through lower to middle levels of forest canopy. Extremely active, dropping and fluttering among foliage, even hanging upside-down. Noisily chases away or mobs birds of prey and other intruders. Flies rapidly and quite directly with shallow whistling beats.

Very noisy. Variety of rising nasal screams and upslurred piping whistles, often in twos and threes or mixed as a series of 3–5 notes; loud "wheep" seems to be a flight contact call. Also delivers prolonged fine, clear medium-pitched whistle of c. 2 seconds in duration, initially dropping in pitch before slowly rising (this note apparently given by two birds simultaneously).

No information.

Not globally threatened. Despite relatively small range, this peculiar crow is patchily distributed, but locally quite common. Reaches its N limit c. 20 km N of Palu (thus absent from almost entire Minahasa Peninsula). Occurs in a number of protected areas, including forest reserves and national parks.