known pie bush crow generic like bird currently thought member crow family uncertain slightly larger north american blue jay bluish grey overall colour white forehead throat chest white tail wings glossy black black feathers tendency brown tips iris bird brown eye surrounded band naked bright blue skin bill legs feet black range species restricted confined country southern near mega absent apparently suitable country near areas reasons apparent feeding usually small groups bird takes mainly insects breeding usually starts march birds building nest high tree birds usually lay cream eggs nest shape tubular entrance possible breeding pair visit nest young previous years help young taxonomy described species placed bird families description long considered member crow family features bare facial skin capable movement structure suggested belong family authors placed species family similarities behavior size authors placed family dna analysis supports placement closest relatives ground suggested surviving ancestor relatives taxonomic situation considered species numerous common names including bush crow genus commemorates italian zoologist explorer served director commemorates german description centimeters long weighs grams look similar sexually overall pale grey black tail wings head mantle pale grey feathers forehead upper ear throat fade white bright skin eye inflated brown eye feathers eye capable moving reveal pink patch skin bird black sharply pointed tip relatively small millimeters long feathers bird chin fine form small erected breast flanks pale grey fading white rear flanks belly wings lesser median upper wing grey rest wing slightly glossy blue black blue black tail relatively long square ended legs black plumage worn appear brownish juvenile slightly adult feathers body fringed facial skin bill legs dull grey vocal species particularly foraging main contact described single metallic flying species frequently calls nasal rapid frequent known adults utter metallic foraging birds single quiet soft repeated building nest known utter low sound adults utter deep bills distribution habitat species endemic central southern lives small area towns mega total range covers square kilometers lives flat covered mature bird prefers open short grass scattered stands mature soil deep rich support numerous stands agricultural fields years unknown species completely absent areas suitable habitat near seemingly identical inhabited land recent research revealed bird appears inhabit area precise average temperature extreme seemingly suitable surrounding land actually slightly higher average temperature appears prevent birds successfully found near scattered woodland habitat meters sea level ecology behavior normally found groups birds species migrate diet feeds ground trees begins foraging sunrise foraging pair group seven foraging vigorously soil held slightly open catch insects catches carries nearest tree bush foot kills eats prey species seen tear apart rotten wood cattle search food land backs cattle search parasites chase flying insects foot abruptly changing direction taking flying leaps prey mixes white crowned red billed red billed buffalo superb foraging hunting trees capable walking atop horizontal branches jumping upwards crown descending crown ground eats primarily invertebrates specifically insects including larvae especially eaten adults reproduction nests small loosely connected colony nests form lifelong pair bond occasionally bird rare cases help breeding couple build nest care young restricted helping nest time seen nests loose colonies birds feed takes place pair colony lays eggs shortly rains normally occur late february early march leading eggs laid late march early april nest structure roof point opening interior chamber nest centimeters diameter interior chamber centimeters start constructing nest single inserted tree meters ground leads paired excited blue facial skin pair pick leaves twigs dropping ground pair end display chasing trees continuing construction nest twigs interior chamber lined dry grass dried cattle damp soil initial twigs connected old nests repaired reused eggs laid nest eggs cream colored pale concentrate ring wider end relationship humans prior modern settlement villages nomadic indigenous peoples provided easy hunting grounds left loose covered soil moved cattle provided rich abundance beetle larvae feed conservation changes grazing habits indigenous peoples following recent trend settling permanent villages negatively impacted previously left soil loose covered support prey new lifestyle resulted soil areas idea private land ownership led intensive planting cash crops rich soil species needs forage prime farming land trees collected removing nesting site protected law sanctuary difficulties enforcing law believed population declined lists endangered restricted range loss suitable habitat population declining rapidly estimated fewer birds remaining
Stresemann's bushcrow