Field ID: Corvids

 

Picture and text provided by the Museum of Novasola, in association with the Novasola Audubon Society

Corvids are members of the family Corvidae, the family that includes crows and jays. Six corvid species are native to Novasola, five of which are endemic. All corvid species on Novasola are common, and some, like the raven, are actually increasing in population. This makes corvids one of the most secure families of birds on Novasola and one of few families that face no conservation worries. Instead they face the opposite, where increasing populations may pose a management problem or threats to other species.  

In general, the corvids are large passerines with sturdy builds. Their plumage is dominated by blacks, blues, whites, and browns. Corvids have stiff feathers, called rictal bristles, covering their nostrils. They show little sexual dimorphism. Most species are quite vocal and have variable vocalizations, though common calls are often harsh or raspy and simple. Many corvids are known to mimic other bird calls or other sounds, and they can be quite skilled at mimicry such that other animals, including people, can be fooled. Many corvids are habitat and diet generalists, meaning they can be found in a wide array of habitats and have an especially variable diet, both of which contribute to the family’s commonness. Some species however, like nutcrackers, are more specialized.

Notably, corvids are extremely intelligent. Some species are considered among the most intelligent animals yet studied, and their brain-to-body mass ratio is roughly equivalent to that of whales and great apes. They have incredible memories, can remember locations and individuals, including those of other species, and can recognize themselves in mirrors. Numerous species have been observed making tools. This intelligence allows corvids to display many complex behaviors, including food caching, problem solving, and forming complicated social relationships.  

Below is an overview of all six native corvid species and one non-native species found on Novasola. Click on the name of each species to be taken to that species’ full entry.

 

1.       Common Raven

·        Field Marks – Largest corvid, roughly hawk-sized. Entirely black, shiny or iridescent in proper light. Bill is disproportionately large and neck bulges with shaggy throat feathers. In flight has long wings and distinct wedge-shaped tail.

·        Voice – Most variable of native corvids. Most commonly a deep croak, deeper and more resonant than a crow’s caw. Talented mimic.

·        Habitat – Habitat generalists, can be found in all ecotypes including forests, coastlines, mountains, and shrubland.

·        Location – Most widespread corvid: found across Novasola, densest in forests though common everywhere.

·        Behaviors – Diet generalists, they eat carrion, small vertebrates, invertebrates, fruit, seeds, trash, and just about anything else they can find. Relatively non-social: Most commonly seen in breeding pairs, though non-breeding birds will flock in groups and ravens may congregate in larger numbers around abundant food sources. Bold and playful, they frequently perform aerial acrobatics or strut.   

·        Notes – The most intelligent bird on Novasola, and one of the most intelligent animals on Earth. They are also exceptionally important to native cultures, one of if not the most prominent roles in Taiyalun mythology especially. 

 

2.      Novasola Magpie

·        Field Marks – Large, roughly crow-sized with an exceptionally long tail. Black and white with iridescent blue wings and purplish-green tails. In flight wings flash obvious white patch. Difficult to confuse for any other native bird.

·        Voice – Harsh chatter and rasps, deeper than Burnside Jay calls.

·        Habitat – Open areas like grassland, shrubland, savannah, parkland, burned areas and suburbia.

·        Location – Common east of the Paramounts, infrequent to rare in the Twin River Basin.

·        Behaviors – Variable diet includes carrion, invertebrates, seeds, fruit, grain, and human trash and food scraps. Social, often in groups of 4-20 individuals.  

·        Notes – Often observed perching atop large herbivores like elk and cattle. Also a significant role in native cultures, especially Yukandaluk mythology.

 

3.      Burnside Jay

·        Field Marks – Medium-large with long tail. Wings and tail blue, back sandy-brown. Two color morphs exist: light morph is more common and has a white head, gray belly, and distinct black ring around the face. Dark morph has a black belly and head with a white face.  

·        Voice – Extremely variable voice, includes raspy calls, rattles, metallic chinks, and bell-like calls. Common raspy calls are higher pitched than those of magpies.

·        Habitat – Open areas like grassland, shrubland, savannah, parkland, burned areas and suburbia.

·        Location – Distinct populations east of the Paramounts and in the Twin River Basin, common in both areas.

·        Behaviors – Variable diet similar to magpies. Exhibits extensive food caching behavior. Extremely social, they form large flocks and complicated social relationships within the flock, including breeders and helpers. Curious and playful, can often be observed engaged in play and are often described as seeming “cat-like”.  

 

4.      Brown Nutcracker

·        Field Marks – Medium-sized with crow-like build. Shorter tail than other corvids and a sturdy, prominent bill. Brown overall with black wings and tail with white undertail and outer tail feathers. In flight wings show white trailing edge, black can appear iridescent.  

·        Voice – Most commonly harsh, nasal caws. Higher pitched than crows.

·        Habitat – Conifer forests, especially pine. Most common in mountains, less common in lower elevation and non-pine conifer forests.

·        Location – Common in all three major mountain chains, and in lower elevations in the Chidkayook northwest.  

·        Behaviors – Diet consists almost entirely of pine seeds, which they pry of cones. Exhibit the greatest food caching of native corvids, often observed burying or recovering seeds. More social than ravens though less than magpies; common in groups of 4-10.

·        Notes – They seem to have evolved a mutualistic relationship with two species of mountain pine. Most of their diet consists of seeds from those two species, and nutcracker caches are responsible for most of the dispersal for those species.    

 

5.      Novasola Jay

·        Field Marks – Medium-sized with long tail and crest. Only native corvid with a crest. Most brilliant blue with intricate black striping on wings and tail. Head and breast black with white cheeks and eye-ring.  

·        Voice – Extremely variable. Raucous and harsh cries, whistles, rattles, chirps, and caws common. Most talented mimic of native corvids.

·        Habitat – Forest generalists, can be found in all forest types including conifer forests, temperate rainforest, deciduous or mixed forests, woodlands, savannah, parkland, scrubland, and developed areas like parks, backyards, and agricultural areas.

·        Location – Common across most of Novasola, but absent from interior prairie and elevations above 7,000 feet.

·        Behaviors – Relatively non-social: Most commonly seen in pairs or groups up to 4, though occasionally in larger flocks of up to 12. Intelligent and bold, commonly approaches humans or human subsidies for food scraps.   

·        Notes – Most common corvid on Novasola within its range, and the most comfortable with people and human development. They have been observed making simple tools.

 

6.      Snow Jay

·        Field Marks – Smallest native corvid. White overall with darker back and blue-gray wings and tail. Appears more “fluffy” and round than other corvids, bill appears shorter. Juveniles dark, sooty gray.

·        Voice – Softer and less harsh than other corvids. Usually silent, but common calls include chirps and whistles. Talented mimic.

·        Habitat – Western conifer forests, especially mid- to high-elevation forests. During harsh winters may move to lower elevations.

·        Location – Found only west of the divide, common in the Paramounts, Angelics, and Chidkayook northwest.

·        Behaviors – Diet similar to Novasola Jay, though Snow jays will eat large slugs, one of the only birds to commonly do so. Often in small groups of 4-8, frequently all related individuals.    

·        Notes – Intelligent and curious, they are the most likely corvids to approach people for food and will take food straight from hands.

 

7.      American Crow

American Crows are not native to Novasola, but have been introduced from the mainland. Exactly how crows made it to Novasola is not understood, but they were likely first introduced only within the past century. Since then, their populations have been increasing steadily, especially in urban areas. Crows have been able to establish footholds in four of the five major cities on Novasola, excluding Vodograd, but thankfully have had less success in the wilderness where ravens have been able to keep up with the new competition. Though their spread has mostly been limited to developed areas, crows are still a concern for wildlife managers and conservationists. Starting in 2005 Novasola has been engaging in crow removal, to mixed success and mixed popularity.

·        Field Marks – Large corvid. Entirely black, shiny or iridescent in proper light. Bill is proportionately smaller than raven’s and they lack shaggy throat feathers. In flight has stout wings and fan-shaped tail.

·        Voice – Variable, similar to ravens but higher pitched and less resonant: not a deep croak but a higher caw. Talented mimic.

·        Habitat – Habitat generalists, can be found in all ecotypes including forests, coastlines, mountains, and shrubland, but most common in urban and suburban areas.

·        Location – Distinct populations in Culver, Artemis, Twin Rivers, and Cape George. Infrequently found in wilderness across Novasola.

·        Behaviors – Diet generalists, they eat carrion, small vertebrates, invertebrates, fruit, seeds, trash, and just about anything else they can find. Much more social than ravens, often found in large flocks. During winter crows will form communal roosts of hundreds of individuals.