Wise Beyond Size And Opportunistic

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Bold Common Familiar

To-date I have never heard anyone say the crows or ravens are shy, in fact too intelligent for their own good sometimes. Arrive with attitude, upset farmers in many cases, not shy to stop in enjoying a little bling or your tasty morsel. Here are some I have seen normally two or more at a time, appears they feel safety in numbers!

White-necked raven (Corvus albicollis) native to eastern and southern Africa, smaller than the common raven, its closest relative being the thick-billed raven. Normally pair off to form territories once adult, often found keeping company with other scavenger birds like kites or vultures. Finds food on the ground, in trees eating almost anything it sees. Wingspan of up to 1.5 meters (4'11").

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Striding along a pathway at Mount Champagne, Central Drakensberg as if telling everyone to stay away.

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Not a clear photo showing the heavy bill/beak of white-necked raven.

Pied crow (Corvus albus) distributed throughout Africa, looks similar to white-necked and thick-billed ravens, smaller in bill size only notable difference. Medium-sized 45cm (18") in length, black feathers white patches on wings and tail.

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Sighting at iSimangaliso Wetlands Park on our North Coast of KwaZulu- Natal.

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Beach front braai facility at St Lucia, North Coast KwaZulu-Natal, nibbling off whatever they could find.

Cape crow or black crow (Corvus capensis) size simlar to Pied crow, range Sub-Saharan Africa. Omnivorous as are most corvidae bird species.

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Stepping out on the golf course at Drakensberg Gardens Resort in Southern Drakensberg.

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Distribution and habitat

It has two separate populations - one in East Africa and the other from Angola to southern Africa. Here it is common in Zimbabwe, Botswana, Namibia and South Africa, largely absent from the Kalahari and Mozambique. It generally favours open habitats with scattered trees, such as open savanna woodland and grassland, but it is also common in semi arid shrubland, alien plantations and farmlands. Corvidae - Convus Capensis

Regular fly-by past our home periodically down to the beach, not the best photograph as they always zip past at high speed.

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According to some research South Africa has ravens and not crows however this does not exclude them from the Corvid family which is the requirement of this contest. Being so similar sometimes only the bill or feathers will indicate which one you looking at in the moment, most refer to them as crows!

South Africa may not have the variety shared in other parts of the world, we do tend to see those we have being medium sized standing out in their black uniformed approach to life.

Thanks for visiting Feathered Friends, Entry to #SMAP No. 107 Contest with host @nelinoeva CORVIDAE

Feathered Friends Community gratitude to @melinda010100 for sponsoring the contest. Our talented artist @barbara-orenya for on-going creative support.

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All photography is my own, taken at various destinations.

Thought for Today: "When a bird builds its nest it uses the feathers of other birds." - African Proverb

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by @barbara-orenya

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61 comments
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Hello dear friend @joanstewart good day
What lovely photographs, these birds are not only beautiful, they are very intelligent, in my city it is not very common to see them.
I appreciate that you let us know all this information and the beautiful images
have a great day

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Very clever bird, one has to watch what you say around them, or eat!

!LOLZ thanks for the visit, wishing you a wonderful new month with !LUV from Durban.

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I haven't seen a free crow for a long time, they are almost always in a zoo, I really have respect for them but also admiration for the link they have with the transformation of the habitat where they are, they feel very safe, they are very intelligent and very intrepid hahah; my grandmother said those crows were bad omen birds, I think it's a myth nothing true.

What I do assure is that they know everything, that is to say very wise, and changeable... I think that's why the mystery and the link with creativity, mystery but also with death.

Interesting post Mrs. @joanstewart I did not know the diversity of these birds

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These birds are now using electrical or other pylons along dry areas to build nest in, moving into more arid regions. Most definitely a very clever bird.

!PIZZA with thanks fro visit.

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Fantastic review of the Corvidae from your place. They are truely having an attitude. Walking like they own the land. 😂

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They appear to take much in their stride Neli, thanks so much for visiting, power now back on for awhile once again!

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I love crows!!! I have a family of 5 that come every day and wait for me to give them treats. They have the coolest attitudes and their antics are very fun to watch. I love the white and black on your native crows. Very cool!

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Always very busy feeding whenever I see them, quite a rowdy bunch when they gather in one place together as well. Appear to adapt quite easy into different regions.

Have a wonderful day and new month ahead Wanda.

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I have never seen a crow with white parts. They're so handsome and seem to have a real attitude. The one at the end walking on the grass seems like a real boss.😂

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Confident bird that makes itself very much at home, not entertained much by the farmers I believe.

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Manually curated by EwkaW from the @qurator Team. Keep up the good work!

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Ha ha got power again...., many thanks @ewkaw appreciate the curate and hello to Team @qurator have a wonderful new month.

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I love Corvids Joan and how cool is that white neck on the white necked raven!
Fantastic pictures!

I must visit Feathered Friends😁

!ALIVE

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Oh, I didn't even know these species existed! Thanks!

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Apparently there is one more which I have not seen yet, only sighted in/around Cape Town or from Durban to far north-east coast KZN, both coastal regions. Name of House Crow (Corvus splendens) smallest of the ones we have here.

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I love crows - they look great in their mostly black or dark feather dresses and they are very intelligent.
My father told us that when he was young, they had a crow that was like a pet and it could even talk a few words, he says😀

!invest_vote

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Pied Crow as pet some have kept them, they do learn to speak. Require a huge space being intelligent, putting them in a cage is not suitable. Would not like to adopt one with a bad temper doing damage to everything in sight with that bill/beak.

Have a great day !BEER

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(Edited)

I am always hoping that one lands on our balcony and stays as a friend of ours and the cats 🤣 !LOLZ
But I guess the crows in cities have made bad experiences with people, so they stay in a save distance.

Yep, their beak is a weapon / tool. I have seen them opening things that other birds couldn't do.

Have an awesome Friday 😊

Have a !PIZZA from me, served with !LUV
!invest_vote

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Crow and cat could be an interesting story, crow would mimic the cat to confuse you !LOLZ

We see them flying around, most probably go to the beach, never seen them in town.

Try enjoy your weekend at work, have a great Friday with !PIZZA lunch perhaps a !WINEX later!

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It would be awesome if my cats had a crow friend 😀 !LOLZ

I'm at the end of my shift and after having a coffee at home I'll decide whether to go to sleep or drive somewhere, but its only cloudy and gray outside, so my bed might be it 😉

Hope you're enjoying a lovely Sunday 😊

Have a !PIZZA from me, served with !LUV
!invest_vote

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Gray dull weather a good reason to enjoy sleep.

Have a productive Sunday hopefully looking through your previous outings between what is actually expected when at your desk.

Another warm day with wind, speak soon !PIZZA and !LUV delivery to get you through the day.

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Actually, the clouds are gone and we have sunshiny weather at 7C at the lake where I am at the moment laying relaxed in my van 😁

I haven't taken many photos in the past weeks.

Hope your day stays warm and a little windy and doesn't get hot and stormy ... enjoy it 😊

Have a !PIZZA from me, served with !LUV
!invest_vote

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Gorgeous little tree, nice place to lay back and relax watching the world go by!

Possibility of rains here tomorrow late into Tuesday, we need some rain not storms !LOLZ

Happy Sunday !LUV to family and have a great evening.

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This bird has very different characteristics from other birds, its arrival makes the atmosphere so scary

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Too busy being bossy with all the other birds, graceful in flight, nasty when fighting.

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This is the first time I've seen white-necked ravens!
Thanks for showing us what we would NOT normally see.
I would have died and not seen one, hahaha!
!LUV
!LOL

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Being on Hive we see and learn more than we realize, bonus!
!WINEX Have a fab Friday.

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👏 yay!!!!

Those white necked ravens are gorgeous.

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Thought you would love to see your favourite bird! 😂

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