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PLATE 77: MAGPIE, CROW AND RAVENS
Eurasian Magpie Pica pica V, E/I
L: 48. Unmistakable; glossy black and white with long, graduated glossy-green tail; in flight,
shows short, rounded wings with white primaries bordered black. Flight action energetic with
irregular flapping wingbeats. Often congregates in flocks, with so-called ‘parliament’ on ground.
Voice Calls include chattering alarm chack-chack-chack-chack-, weaker ch-chack and squealing
keee-uck. Habitat Bushy or open country with tall trees, scattered woods, pine and juniper-covered
slopes up to 2900m. Note Winter dispersal hatched; vagrant Oman.House Crow Corvus splendens RB
L: 43. Readily told by steep forehead, domed crown, grey nape, neck and breast clearly
demarcated from black face, but merging with rest of black plumage. Some individuals (adults of
different subspecies, apparently including introduced/stowaway Sinhalese subspecies protegatus,
and some, probably young birds) show little grey on head or breast. Most Arabian populations
(subspecies zugmayeri) consistently show much grey. Wings broad, tail long and with relatively
light and nimble flight with slow or fast wingbeats. Bold, noisy and gregarious, often in very large
numbers, especially at roosts. Voice High- or low-pitched; harsh grehr or waaa waaa waaa; often
also higher aah-aah, recalling archetypal crow heard in spaghetti Westerns. Habitat Ports, coastal
towns and villages. Nests semi-colonially in trees or manmade structures. Note A pest species in
the region [Alt: Indian House Crow]Brown-necked Raven Corvus ruficollis RB
L: 50. Larger than Fan-tailed Raven with proportionately longer, slimmer wings, longer head
and slimmer bill (often held drooping in flight), and bronzy-brown sheen on nape and neck (can
be difficult to see); longish, wedge-shaped tail often shows central feathers protruding beyond
tail outline. At rest wings reach to or beyond tail-tip. Juvenile lacks brown on neck. In pairs or
flocks, roosts communally post-breeding. Voice Croaking raark. Habitat Deserts, semi-deserts, arid
mountains, often near remote habitation, camps, livestock enclosures, villages. Note Absent from
southernmost Oman (Dhofar mountains) where replaced by Fan-tailed Raven.Fan-tailed Raven Corvus rhipidurus RB
L: 47. Readily told from other crows (though only Brown-necked Raven and House Crow occur in the
same range) by very short tail and bulging trailing edge, giving it an unmistakable, almost ‘flying
backwards’ (vulturine) flight silhouette. Strong bill is shorter and heavier than Brown-necked
Raven. When soaring overhead black coverts contrast with slightly paler flight feathers and the
greyish feet may be visible. At rest wings extend well beyond tail-tip. Often congregates in large
groups, which will soar, raptor-like, in thermals or updrafts. Voice High-pitched, rather gull-like
croak. Habitat A wide variety of habitats from sea level to over 3000m; often close to human
habitation. Nests on ledge or hole in rock face. Note Some winter dispersal; replaces Brown-necked
Raven in S Oman; vagrant UAE.