Large-billed Crow

The large-billed crow is a relatively large all-black crow, 46–59cm long and 450–1,000g, with a big black bill with an arched upper edge, the base covered by overlapping black bristles. Its glossy plumage has a purple sheen, the neck feathers are pale grey at the base and the throat has elongated hackles. The eyes are dark brown and the legs black. The female averages smaller with a less arched bill. It can be mistaken for a common raven (Wikipedia, general species account).

It is very adaptable and can live on a very wide range of foods, which lets it colonise new areas; on islands especially it is often regarded as a nuisance. Its taxonomy is complicated: several species may be involved, and the eastern and Indian jungle crows were once combined with it as the jungle crow. Its scientific name means long-billed. In India it is resident across a very large range; SoIB 2023 finds its current trend stable and rates it a Low conservation priority (Wikipedia, general species account; SoIB 2023).