Fan-tailed Raven
Corvus rhipidurus
Silhouette: Peileppe · PhyloPic
- KingdomAnimalia (Animals)
- PhylumChordata (Chordates)
- ClassAves (Birds)
- OrderPasseriformes (Perching Birds)
- FamilyCorvidae (Crows, Jays, and Magpies)
- GenusCorvus (Crows and Ravens)
- SpeciesCorvus rhipidurus (Fan-tailed Raven)
About the Fan-tailed Raven
The fan-tailed raven (Corvus rhipidurus) is a passerine bird of the crow family native to Eastern Africa and the Arabian Peninsula. The fan-tailed raven is completely black including bill, legs and feet and the plumage has a purplish-blue gloss in good light. Worn plumage is slightly coppery-brown. The base of the feathers on the upper neck are white and only seen if the bird is inspected or a strong gust blows them the wrong way. The throat hackles are shorter than in most other ravens. One of the smaller raven species, it is about the same size or slightly larger than the carrion crow, at 47–51 cm, but with a much thicker bill, shorter tail and much larger wings.
The voice is described as guttural croaks mixed with the sound of frog-call. Like all corvids, the fan-tailed raven is capable of vocal mimicry; however, this behavior is mostly recorded in captivity and, very rarely, in the wild.
It occurs in the Middle East, North Africa, Arabia, and south to Sudan and Kenya. It also ranges across the Aïr Massif in the southern Sahara. It lives in desert or open dry country that includes crags for nesting. It is one of the most aerial of... Wikipedia →
Recent sightings of Fan-tailed Raven in Kidepo Valley National Park
LIVEiNaturalistClosest Relatives at Kidepo Valley National Park
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Global Distribution
Warmer areas are where this animal is recorded most often.
Parks Where Found
| # | Park | Country | Daily sighting probability |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Awash National Park | 🇪🇹 Ethiopia | |
| 2 | Kidepo Valley National Park | 🇺🇬 Uganda | |
| 3 | Samburu National Reserve | 🇰🇪 Kenya | |
| 4 | Bale Mountains National Park | 🇪🇹 Ethiopia |
Quick answers
What are the chances of seeing a Fan-tailed Raven in Kidepo Valley National Park?
About 40% of wildlife watchers report a Fan-tailed Raven sighting in Kidepo Valley National Park, based on 144 verified sightings from GBIF citizen-science data.
When is the best time to see Fan-tailed Raven in Kidepo Valley National Park?
July has the highest sighting rate for Fan-tailed Raven in Kidepo Valley National Park in our monthly data.