The Sunda crow is a passerine bird of the family Corvidae that is found in South-East Asia, from Malaysia to Borneo. The Sunda crow is part of the Corvus enca species complex, which was formerly treated as a single species and known as the slender-billed crow. The complex is now treated as five species, after four subspecies were split off as distinct species: the Samar crow or small crow, the Palawan crow, the Sulawesi crow and the Sierra Madre crow. The violet crow was also once included, but has been shown to be distinct genetically and separated as Corvus violaceus.
Region
Southeast Asia
Typical Environment
Occurs from the Malay Peninsula south through coastal and lowland areas of Sumatra, Borneo, Java, and nearby Sundaic islands, with some records in Brunei and coastal Malaysia. It frequents lowland and hill forests, mangroves, riverine woodland, and secondary growth. The species readily uses edges, plantations, rural settlements, and coastal fringes. It avoids the densest interior montane forest but tolerates moderate disturbance and fragmented habitats.
Altitude Range
Sea level to 1500 m
Climate Zone
Tropical
Ease of Keeping
Beginner friendly: 2/5
The Sunda crow is a small, slender-billed corvid of the Sundaic region, often seen along forest edges, mangroves, and human-modified habitats. It was formerly lumped within the slender-billed crow complex but is now treated as its own species after regional splits. As an opportunistic omnivore, it helps clean up carrion and may aid seed dispersal through fruit eating. It is typically wary but adaptable around people.
Temperament
social and active
Flight Pattern
direct flight with steady wingbeats; brief glides
Social Behavior
Usually seen in pairs or small family groups, sometimes joining mixed-species foraging flocks in edge habitats. Nests are placed high in trees; both sexes participate in nest defense. They may form loose communal roosts near feeding sites, especially in coastal or agricultural zones.
Migratory Pattern
Resident
Song Description
Vocalizations are a series of harsh caws, nasal yaps, and rasping notes. Calls vary in tempo and pitch and can become rapid during alarm or social interactions. Quiet contact notes are used within pairs and small groups.
Plumage
Uniform glossy black with a subtle bluish to purplish sheen; feathers appear sleek without shaggy throat hackles.
Diet
An opportunistic omnivore feeding on insects, small vertebrates, eggs, fruits, seeds, and carrion. It will also take crustaceans and mollusks in mangroves and intertidal zones. Around people, it forages at rubbish tips, markets, and agricultural fields, exploiting spilled grain and food scraps. It may cache food items in concealed spots.
Preferred Environment
Feeds along forest edges, mangroves, and riverbanks, as well as in plantations, villages, and open scrub. Often forages on the ground or low perches, probing leaf litter and debris, and will glean from branches and trunks.
