Corvus edithae
Silhouette: Peileppe · PhyloPic
In 3 days ~30% in a week ~50%
The Somali crow, or dwarf raven (Corvus edithae), is approximately the size (44–46 cm in length) of the carrion crow, Corvus corone but with a longer bill and a somewhat more brownish cast to the feathers, especially when worn.
This species occurs principally in Somalia, Djibouti, the Ogaden and the Northern Frontier District in the Horn of Africa, and can be distinguished from the larger brown-necked raven C. ruficollis by its call, appearance and differences in its behaviour.
It was formerly considered a subspecies of the larger brown-necked raven (C. ruficollis), but is now considered to be a distinct species. This crow is thought to be closer to the pied crow C. albus by some authorities, especially in its behaviour, than to the brown-necked raven. Hybrid birds between the pied crow and the Somali crow appear to reinforce this close relationship where the two species meet.
The nest is a ravenlike bulky structure set in either a lone tree or on telegraph poles. It will nest on cliffs in coastal regions or areas where trees are unavailable. The 3-5 eggs are laid in April and early May. The voice is described as a harsh "caw" rather like the rook, Corvus... Wikipedia →
| # | Park | Country | Daily sighting probability |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Awash National Park | 🇪🇹 Ethiopia | |
| 2 | Bale Mountains National Park | 🇪🇹 Ethiopia |
With luck
About 10% of wildlife watchers report a Somali Crow sighting in Awash National Park on a given day, based on 15 verified sightings from GBIF citizen-science data from 2019 to 2026. It is the 135th most-seen of the 217 birds we can rate there. Over three days the chance rises to about 30%, and over a week to about 50%, if each day is a fresh chance.
July
In that month about 30% of wildlife watchers report a Somali Crow in Awash National Park on a given day, against under 5% in April and November–December, the lowest months. That is one of Awash National Park's wettest months, with about 70 mm of rain against 10 mm in January. February–March, May and September have too few records to rate.
Between noon and 3 pm
Across all the parks we cover, that three-hour window holds the most Somali Crow sightings with a recorded time, and about 8 in 10 of them come between 6 am and 6 pm: it is a daytime animal.
Yes
Of the 2 parks where we can rate Somali Crow sightings, Awash National Park has the highest daily chance: about 10%. Next come Bale Mountains National Park (Ethiopia, about 10%).
Same genus: Corvus
The closest relatives of the Somali Crow that you can see in Awash National Park (genus Corvus, Crows and Ravens) are Fan-tailed Raven (about 40%) and Pied Crow (about 40%), with each one's daily chance of a sighting.
GBIF citizen-science records
It is estimated from how often the Somali Crow is recorded against all the birds logged in Awash National Park (15 verified sightings from 2019 to 2026), calibrated against known sighting rates. Figures are rounded to the nearest 10% because citizen-science data supports honest approximations, not decimals, and months with records from fewer than five people show "—". How it works.
