The Philippine jungle crow (Corvus philippinus) is a species of crow endemic to the Philippines. It is a generalist and found across a wide range of habitats including near human settlements. It was formerly as subspecies of the Large-billed crow but has now been designated as a distinct species.
Description and taxonomy
EBird describes this as "Large crow endemic to the Philippines; note its relatively long, daggerlike bill with curved top. Entirely black with some glossiness evident in good lighting. Compare with smaller Palawan, Samar, and Sierra Madre Crows in areas of overlap. A frequent scavenger, feeding on carrion, leftover food from humans, and food stolen from other birds. Often gangs up to attack and chase other birds, especially raptors. Occurs in a wide range of habitats including woodlands, urban landscapes, agricultural fields, and open scrub forests. Call varies, generally a harsh or croaking crow."[1][2]
The Philippine jungle crow was formally described in 1853 by the French naturalist Charles Lucien Bonaparte under the current binomial nameCorvus philippinus.[3][4] It was formerly considered to be a subspecies of the large-billed crow (Corvus macrorhynchos) but is now separated as a distinct species based on the vocal and genetic differences. It also differs as it has a whiter base on its neck feathers and has a longer tail.[5][6] The species is monotypic: no subspecies are recognised.[5]
Ecology and behavior
This species is a generalist. It feeds on carrion, small vertebrares, insects, young birds, fruit and even feeds on leftovers near human dwellings. This species is typically encountered in pairs on in small groups.
This species has been recorded laying eggs from March to August. Nest is described as a platform of twigs placed high above the ground on a tree-fork. Clutch size is typically 3 dull green eggs with brown and gray spots.
Habitat and conservation status
This species is a generalist. It can be seen in forest, woodlands, forest edge, clearings, farms, plantations, beaches and near human habitation.