About Corvus rhipidurus Hartert, 1918
The fan-tailed raven (Corvus rhipidurus Hartert, 1918) is entirely black, including its bill, legs, and feet. In good lighting, its plumage shows a distinct purplish-blue gloss, while worn plumage takes on a slight coppery-brown tone. The base of the feathers on its upper neck is white, and this white coloration is only visible when the bird is closely inspected, or when a strong gust of wind blows the feathers out of position. Its throat hackles are shorter than those found on most other raven species. This is one of the smaller raven species, reaching a total length of 47 to 51 cm. It is around the same size as, or slightly larger than, the carrion crow, but has a much thicker bill, a shorter tail, and much larger wings. The fan-tailed raven's voice is made up of guttural croaks, mixed with a sound similar to a frog's call. Like all other members of the corvid family, the fan-tailed raven can perform vocal mimicry. This behavior has been recorded mostly in captive individuals, and only very rarely in wild birds. This raven occurs across the Middle East, North Africa, Arabia, and extends south to Sudan and Kenya. Its range also covers the Aïr Massif in the southern Sahara. It lives in desert or open dry landscapes that have crags suitable for nesting. It is one of the most aerial bird species, traveling very long distances to search for food. Its large wings are adapted for gliding on thermals in a vulture-like manner.
