The Sierra Madre crow is a passerine bird in the crow family Corvidae that is endemic to the island of Luzon in the Philippines. It was formerly considered as conspecific with the Samar crow with the combined taxa known as the small crow. Its natural habitats are primary tropical moist lowland forest. It is now extremely rare and likely endangered. It is threatened by habitat loss and hunting.
Region
Sierra Madre Range, Luzon
Typical Environment
Occurs along the eastern cordillera of Luzon, primarily within intact lowland and foothill tropical moist forest. It uses primary forest most frequently but may venture into selectively logged tracts and along forest edges and riverine corridors when cover remains. The population is highly localized and patchy, tracking remaining forest blocks. Most detections are in midstory to canopy strata where birds forage and travel in small parties.
Altitude Range
Sea level to 1000 m
Climate Zone
Tropical
Ease of Keeping
Beginner friendly: 1/5
Endemic to the Sierra Madre of Luzon, this small, slender-billed crow was formerly lumped with the Samar crow under the name 'small crow.' It favors primary lowland rainforest and is elusive, often overlooked among larger crows. Logging, habitat fragmentation, and hunting have made it very rare and likely endangered. Its higher-pitched, thinner calls and smaller size help distinguish it from the larger large-billed crow of the Philippines.
Temperament
wary and secretive
Flight Pattern
strong flier with steady, direct wingbeats; short glides between canopy gaps
Social Behavior
Typically found in pairs or small family groups, occasionally joining loose mixed-species foraging flocks in the canopy. Nests are placed high in large forest trees, with both adults participating in care. As in many corvids, cooperative behavior among close kin may occur where populations persist.
Migratory Pattern
Resident
Song Description
Voice consists of thin, nasal caws and higher-pitched rattling notes, softer and less resonant than larger Philippine crows. Calls are often delivered in short series from concealed perches. Alarm calls become harsher and more rapid when disturbed.
