Photo: Bc999 (Black crow) / CC BY-SA 3.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
Somali Crow
Corvus edithae
Somali Crow (Corvus edithae) — Crows, Jays & Magpies of Africa.
Found on 1 guide in our atlas — open it for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.
The Somali Crow (Corvus edithae) is a member of the Corvidae family found in Africa. Adults weigh 524 g. The IUCN Red List lists it as Least Concern.
Conservation status
IUCN Red List (opens in a new tab)Widespread and abundant — not currently at risk.
Where it fits
- Class Aves
- Order Passeriformes
- Family Corvidae Crows, Jays
- Genus Corvus
- Species edithae
Where it lives
Eastern Eritrea to eastern South Sudan and northern Kenya through Ethiopia to Somalia
Quick facts
- Weight
- 524 g
- Diet
- Omnivores
- Family
- Corvidae
- Order
- Passeriformes
- Habitat
- Grassland & open country
How to identify
Similar birds
Not Evaluated
Least Concern
Least Concern
Least Concern
Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Somali Crow is a omnivore — it takes a broad, omnivorous diet of both plant and animal foods.
Behaviour
A bird of arid, desert country, it forages mainly on the ground.
Migration
The Somali Crow is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
The Somali Crow (Corvus edithae) is a species of bird in the Corvidae family, part of the order Passeriformes. It is found across Africa. Its distribution covers AF e Eritrea to e South Sudan and n Kenya through Ethiopia to Somalia.
It is a large bird. Adults weighs around 524 g, with a wing length of about 33.9 cm and a tail of around 16.9 cm.
The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern. That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.
Its mapped global range covers an estimated 1.2 million km².
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Somali Crow?
The Somali Crow is a large bird that weighs around 524 g.
Where does the Somali Crow live?
The Somali Crow is found across Africa with a range covering AF e Eritrea to e South Sudan and n Kenya through Ethiopia to Somalia, where it favours open grassland, scrub and lightly vegetated country.
What family does the Somali Crow belong to?
The Somali Crow (Corvus edithae) belongs to the Corvidae family, in the order Passeriformes.
What does the Somali Crow eat?
The Somali Crow is a omnivore — it takes a broad, omnivorous diet of both plant and animal foods.
Does the Somali Crow migrate?
The Somali Crow is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
Is the Somali Crow endangered?
The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.
What sound does the Somali Crow make?
1 real field recording of the Somali Crow — including its call — can be played in the Songs & calls section on this page, credited to the recordist who captured it.
How large is the Somali Crow's range?
The Somali Crow has a mapped global range of about 1.2 million km².
Conservation
Every bird benefits from bird-safe windows, native plants, and keeping cats indoors. Small changes at home add up to real protection.
Explore more birds
More in Corvidae
Least Concern
Not Evaluated
Least Concern
Not Evaluated
Least Concern
Least Concern
More in Corvids
Vulnerable
Least Concern
Near Threatened
Least Concern
Not Evaluated
Least Concern
Guides for this bird
Best Feeders for Jays & Larger Garden Birds
How to choose a feeder for jays and other big, bold garden birds — the styles that suit peanuts and larger food, and how to keep them from crowding your small-bird feeders. A decision framework with the species in the Birbs encyclopedia.