The Ethiopian bushcrow (Zavattariornis stresemanni), also known as the Stresemann's bushcrow, Abyssinian pie, bush crow, or by its generic name Zavattariornis, is a rather starling-like bird, which is a member of the crow family, Corvidae. It is slightly larger than the North American blue jay and is a bluish-grey in overall colour which becomes almost white on the forehead. The throat and chest are creamy-white with the tail and wings a glossy black. The black feathers have a tendency to bleach to brown at their tips. The iris of the bird is brown and the eye is surrounded by a band of naked bright blue skin. The bill, legs, and feet are black.

Feeding is usually in small groups and the bird takes mainly insects. Breeding usually starts in March, with the birds building their nest high in an acacia tree. The birds usually lay five to six cream eggs with lilac blotches. The nest itself is globular in shape with a tubular entrance on top. It is possible that more than just the breeding pair visit the nest and that the young of previous years help in rearing the young.

The range of this species is quite restricted, it being confined to thorn acacia country in southern Ethiopia near Yavello (Javello), Mega, and Arero. It can be absent from apparently suitable country near these areas; the reasons for this were formerly unclear, but are now thought to be related to the species requiring a "bubble" of lower temperature for proper foraging, which is only present within its small range, making it one of the few warm-blooded animals whose survival is wholly dependent on temperature (along with the sympatric white-tailed swallow). This requirement makes it extremely vulnerable to climate change, and massive declines and even potential extinction in the wild are projected in the future, making it one of the birds most threatened by climate change. The species has been placed in several bird families since its description. It has been suggested that the bushcrow is a surviving relict ancestor to several of these relatives.

This species has numerous common names, including Stresemann's bushcrow, bush-crow, Ethiopian bushcrow, Abyssinian bushcrow, and Zavattariornis.

The genus name Zavattariornis commemorates Edoardo Zavattari, an Italian zoologist and explorer who served as the director of Rome University's Zoological Institute between 1935 and 1958. Its name commemorates Erwin Stresemann, a German ornithologist.

Description

The Ethiopian bushcrow is about long and weighs . The feathers behind the eye are capable of moving to reveal an oblong pink patch of skin. It lives in a small area circumscribed by the towns of Yabelo, Borena, Mega, and Arero in Sidamo Province, and settles in wildlife under protection within Yabelo Wildlife Sanctuary and Borana National Park. It is also not found near the scattered broadleaf woodland made up of Combretum and Terminalia.

Ecology and behaviour

The Ethiopian bushcrow is normally found in groups of about six birds. This provided a rich abundance of beetle larvae for the bushcrow to feed upon. The population seems to be declining rapidly and in 2007 it was estimated that there might be fewer than 10,000 birds remaining.

References

Cited texts

Further reading

  • Stresemann's bushcrow from the Internet Bird Collection
  • Anthony Disley line drawing of Stresemann's bushcrow
  • BirdLife Species Factsheet