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Torresian Crow


Torresian Crow
Photo Information
Copyright: Colin McQueen (McQueenca) Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 131 W: 11 N: 226] (1387)
Genre: Animals
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2013-02-10
Categories: Birds
Camera: Canon 7D, Canon EF 24-70 mm 1:2.8 L USM
Exposure: f/6.3, 1/400 seconds
More Photo Info: [view]
Photo Version: Original Version
Date Submitted: 2013-02-27 19:33
Viewed: 3877
Points: 39
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
Note
This photo was taken mid morning in sunny conditions.

Torresian Crow
Corvus orru
Corvidae

The Torresian Crow is common in the northern half of Australia, where it may interact with other species of crows and ravens, especially at sites of abundant food. They usually build their bulky stick nests in the tops of tall eucalypts, generally in the shade in the lower section of the crown, but many choose to build on artificial nest-sites instead, such as power poles, pylons or windmills — on the road to Mount Isa in western Queensland each power pole is decorated with its own nest.

Identification
Description

The Torresian Crow is a large glossy black crow with short throat hackles (feathers). The feathers of the head and neck have white bases. The eye is white with a fine blue eye-ring. Immature birds are duller black with a brown eye. When landing, this species characteristically shuffles its wings. It will be seen outside breeding season in large flocks. It has also been called the Australian Crow.

Similar Species

There are six members of the family Corvidae found in Australia: five native breeding species and one infrequent self-introduction. Three are called crows and three ravens, although there is really little difference. Most Australian species are similar in size and colouration, and can be difficult to tell apart. In some cases, identification is aided by the separate ranges of different species, but differences in plumage, habits and calls offer good clues for distinguishing them. The bases of the feathers of the crows are white, while those of the ravens are grey, although this is only useful if birds are held in the hand or if discarded feathers are found. The Torresian Crow's short staccato call and its habit of wing-shuffling can help to identify it from other crows.

Images © Georgina Steytler

Location
Distribution

The Torresian Crow is found across northern Australia and in Western Australia, from Geraldton to Norseman. It is more common in coastal and tropical areas, being only patchily distributed inland. It is also found in Papua New Guinea, the Moluccas and New Britain. It is the most common corvid (crow or raven) of coastal towns from Forster, New South Wales to Brisbane, Queensland and also in Darwin, Northern Territory.

Habitat

The Torresian Crow is found on rainforest fringes, in open forests and woodlands, taller scrublands, beaches and in dry areas, along watercourses with tall timber. It is also found around farms and in croplands. It requires tall trees for nesting.

Behaviour
Feeding

The Torresian Crow eats the most grain, compared with other corvids, but will also eat fruit, insects and other invertebrates, eggs, garbage and carrion (dead animals). Often seen feeding along roads. Perches on the heads of crop plants or on tall artificial structures.

Breeding

The Torresian Crow forms monogamous breeding pairs that maintain a permanent territory. Both sexes build the nest, which is a bowl of sticks lined with grass, placed high in a tree (over 10 m) or artificial structure. The Torresian Crow's nest is made of finer material than the other corvid species'. Both parents share feeding duties.

Source: birdlife.org.au
Argus, jusninasirun, goatman04, Marco2010, CeltickRanger, Hormon_Manyer has marked this note useful
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Critiques [Translate]

  • Great 
  • Argus Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 5038 W: 260 N: 15594] (50626)
  • [2013-02-27 22:22]

Hello Colin,
Nice one of this species of Crow. The clarity, pose and POV against the water are great and I like the lighting on the feathers.
Thanks and best regards,
Ivan

Hello Colin.
Amazing plumage details of this crow. You have done well in bringing out the texture of the black feather. Well done and kind regards.
Jusni

  • Great 
  • senn Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 58 W: 2 N: 155] (1384)
  • [2013-02-28 0:55]

pretty sharp details and effective expo here, Colin ..

kind regards,

Hello Colin,
Beautiful capture with excellent sharpness,details and taken from nice PoV.
Thanks and my regards,
Joy

  • Great 
  • PeterZ Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 5137 W: 166 N: 13121] (49139)
  • [2013-02-28 7:16]

Hello Colin,
Excellent photo of this Torresian Crow in good sharpness and beautiful natural colours. Nice contrast against the water in the background. Taken from a nice low POV.
Regards,
Peter

你好
照的很清晰
鳥很漂亮 羽毛紋路可見
藍色的眼睛很是迷人
構圖也美麗
謝謝分享
STONE

Hello Colin,
Beautiful picture of this crow.Nice eye and it matches with the colour of water.Nice colour on subject with well focus.
Thanks for sharing,
Kind regards,
Srikumar

hallo Colin
great sharpness shot with good details
i like this composition to see this bird very good
thanks greeting lou

Hello Colin,
An excellent capture with fine coloration, details & pose. Nicely done with a great presentation & POV. TFS & best wishes!

Umar

Ciao Colin.
Ottima foto di questo Corvo grande nitidezza con dei colori meravigliosi,grande nitidezza con eccellenti dettagli,ottima composizione.
Ciao Marco.
Grazie della condivisione.

Ciao Colin, great capture of lovely crow in nice pose, fine details, splendid sharpness and wonderful natural colors, very well done, my friend, ciao Silvio

Hello Colin!
Beautiful shot in a very special POV.Lovely eyes contact ( what the blue eyes!!!!).So well done!TFS
Thanks also for visiting my gallery!I was very kind of you!
Nice w-end!
aNa

Hello Colin,it`s not always easy to capture the details in the black plumage but you have done so very well.
A striking pose well captured.
Regards Les.

  • Great 
  • lousat Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 6595 W: 89 N: 15659] (65489)
  • [2013-03-01 8:52]

Hi Colin,excellent exposure and light management,the black plumage is always a great problem and you make the best,great details and excellent pose too.Have a nice weekend and thanks,Luciano

Hello Colin

Great capture of the expressive pose and glance
of this Crow with excellent details of the dark plumage,
your lateral POV and the light helped for that, TFS

Asbed

  • Great 
  • foozi Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 2791 W: 0 N: 6696] (25839)
  • [2013-03-03 4:22]

Hello Colin
such a nice contrast of colors and sharpness. The details of the black feathers are well seen in abundance of light.
Excellent view with the background so cooperating.

Regards
Foozi

Hello Colin,
a beautiful portrait or side view of this crow with great clarity and colour.
best wishes,
samiran

beautiful scene with this composition, I like the color performance!
regards Colin
Nasos

  • Great 
  • tuslaw Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2754 W: 282 N: 4931] (19883)
  • [2013-03-09 18:53]

Hello Colin,
What a beautiful crow with bright blue eyes. I admit I have never seen this species of crow before, but it seems to resemble the Ravens I see in our western states.
All black or all white birds are very hard to get the correct exposure on, but you did a fine job on this particular specimen. The plumage is seen very nicely with just the right amount of iridescent colors shown throughout. Great work!!
Ron

Hi Colin,
Hopefully you return to TrekNature soon. This photo of the Torresian Crow is good, however, not perfect - it could be sharper a bit, and the composition's imho average also, albeit the exposition seems proper. I wish you good luck for your future captures, hope to see you here soon. Best regards, László

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