White-necked Raven

Corvus albicollis

Other Names

  White-naped Raven   Corbeau à nuque blanche   Geierrabe     Vithalsad korp, Vitnackad korp     Corvo collobianco

World: Highland species with a range in the east of the continent from South Africa north through Zimbabwe to Kenya and eastern Zaire.

Kenya: Locally common mostly between 1000-3000m. Absent from the coastal strip and Lake Victoria basin, as well as much of the north and eastern part of the country.

At 22" (56 cm) long this is a BIG bird. To put this into perspective it is of a size with an Osprey or Black Kite and is significantly bigger than a Common Buzzard. It favours escarpments, rocky cliffs and mountainous regions, nesting and roosting on cliffs. It preys mainly on rodents and large insects although it will also act as a scavenger.

It seems to show a playful side and can frequently be spotted indulging in aerial acrobatics. Where it is found around human habitation it is frequently quite tame.

The only species that bears any resemblance to the White-necked Raven is the Pied Crow which is smaller and has a white breast. However the simple rule "if you have to ask, it's not a raven" applies. Once you have seen this impressive bird you're unlikely to ever confuse it again!

This bird was photographed at Ol Kurruk in the Maasai Mara. This lodge is in the less frequently visited part of the Game Reserve on top of a high escarpment. White-necked Ravens are also quite common near Ngulia in Tsavo National Park.