23

Torresian Crow (Corvus orru) Alternate name(s): "Australian Crow", "Large-billed Crow", "Crow*", "Kelly*" Aboriginal name(s): "waja" [ngadjon] Size: 48-55 cm; wing span: ca. 1.0 m Body mass: 430-670 g Wing loading [g/cm2]: ca. 0.40-0.50

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Similar species

Description     Classification     Distribution     Sightings     Photos     Breeding     Nest     Eggs     Behaviour     Food     Call/s

Physical description Click here for a physical description Together with Australian Ravens, Torresian Crows are the largest Australian corvids (ravens and crows). Their plumage is glossy-black on the back, plain black in front. Their appearance depends mostly on the angle of infalling sunlight. The length of the bill about equals the size of the head. In straight, level flight the tail is wide and straight, with a square-shaped tip. The eyes have whitish irises. The long, straight bill is dark-grey. The legs and feet are also dark-grey, with pink foot soles. Juveniles have fleshy gapes, dark irises and a shorter bill and tail. Twitcher's tip The correct identification of corvids in the field is notoriously difficult. Compared with other Australian corvids, Torresian Crows have the broadest and most square-shaped tail. If visible, e.g. when ruffled by wind, the base of feathers of ravens is grey (while those of crows have white bases). The transition from black to grey is gradual (while in crows the transition from black to white is abrupt).

Taxonomy, classification See Torresian Crow at Wikipedia .

Range, habitat, finding this species Click here for information on habitat and range The overall distribution of this species can be assessed, and specific locations where birds have been spotted can be found, based on individual sighting reports submitted by birdwatchers to ebird.org . The global distribution of the Torresian Crow is available HERE . There are two races of Torresian Crows. Together, their range encompasses eastern Indonesia, New Guinea and parts of Australia. Nominate race "orru" is found only on North Torres Strait islands and further to the North of Australia (e.g., New Guinea). The Australian mainland race of the Torresian Crow, "cecilae", is endemic to Australia. It is found mostly in the northern half of the Australian continent. Torresian Crows, race "cecilae", populate all of Cape York peninsula, QLD, and the area to the East of a line connecting roughly the southern-most tip of the Gulf of Carpentaria, Boomi, NSW, and the Hunter River estuary in NSW. Further West, Torresian Crows are found all over the NT (including offshore islands, but excluding the corner to the South-East of Alice Springs), the north-western corner of SA, the Kimberley in WA and north-western and central WA (from roughly the Gascoyne, along an about 500-km wide strip towards Kalgoorlie, WA). Torresian Crows live in a variety of habitats within their range, often along the fringes of forested areas, e.g. along watercourses, but also in more open country. They can also regularly be seen on beaches and dunes. Where to look? How to find this species? The primary problem with finding Torresian Crows is not that they are difficult to see or hear, but difficult to identify (from other corvids. The easiest way to find a Torresian Crow is to just wait until one flies over (which usually won't take long). Other than that, waiting by a carcass (e.g. roadkill) is also a promising strategy.

Sightings Click here for sighting information Race "cecilae" Torresian Crows, race "cecilae", were first seen by us on private properties about 10 km North-West of Moree, NSW, in April 2012. There they were seen in eucalypts along the Gwydir River bordering on broadacre farmland. The contributions to these observations by C. Hayne and A. Lines (in both spotting the birds and their identification) are most gratefully acknowledged. C. Hayne and A. Lines also report that Torresian Crows, race "cecilae", are heard and seen regularly in various locations around Moree, NSW, e.g. Whittaker's Lagoon, whereas they are not always found at Narrabri, just 100 km further South, through open broadacre farming country. Torresian Crows, race "cecilae", were first positively identifed by us at Eulah Creek, 20 km East of Narrabri, NSW, in October 2012. Seen there again in October/November 2013. In October 2022 a pair was found breeding at the same location. J. Greaves reports spotting a Torresian Crow, race "cecilae", in Alyangula, Groote Eylandt, NT, in September 2014, in Broome, WA, in April 2015, and at the Granites Gold Mine, NT, in August 2015. They were also spotted at Boolardy Station, Murchison, WA, in August 2016. H. Mouritsen reports finding Torresian Crows, race "cecilae", in abundance in various locations in and around Darwin and Pine Creek, NT, in October 2015. Torresian Crows, race "cecilae", are reported to us regularly from locations in the eastern half of QLD and far north-eastern NSW. E. Scottreports finding the species breeding at Roseberry Creek Valley, near Toonumbar NP, northern NSW, in the 2017 breeding season, a nest being built in July/August. P. Brown reports finding Torresian Crows, race "cecilae", at Keep River NP, NT, in November 2018, where they were found nesting at the time, at at Tree Point Conservation Area, Shoal Bay, NT, in March 2019. M. Mearns and M. Eaton report finding Torresian Crows, race "cecilae", regularly in various locations in western QLD.

Photos

Race "cecilae"

ADULT

Sex unknown

Close-up frontal portrait of a Torresian Crow looking sideways (photo courtesy of J. Greaves)
[The Granites Gold Mine, inland NT, August 2015]

Close-up lateral view of the same Torresian Crow as shown above; here the bird's feathers are ruffled, exposing the WHITE basal down characteristic of crows [whereas ravens would have grey basal down] (photo courtesy of J. Greaves)
[The Granites Gold Mine, inland NT, August 2015]

Close-up frontal view of a Torresian Crow (photo courtesy of A. Ross-Taylor)
[Highland Park, Gold Coast, QLD, November 2013]

Frontal view of a cawing Torresian Crow (photo courtesy of A. Ross-Taylor)
[Highland Park, Gold Coast, QLD, November 2013]

Close-up frontal view of a cawing Torresian Crow; this bird's calls were recorded on 3 August 2017
(photo courtesy of E. Scott)
[Roseberry Creek Valley, near Toonumbar NP, northern NSW, August 2017]

Near-frontal/ventral view of a cawing Torresian Crow (photo courtesy of C. Hayne)
[Moree, NSW, October 2013]

Near-frontal/near-lateral view of two Torresian Crows on a strainer post (photo courtesy of E. Scott)
[Roseberry Creek Valley, near Toonumbar NP, northern NSW, November 2016]

Near-lateral view of a cawing Torresian Crow (photo courtesy of A. Ross-Taylor)
[South Stradbroke Island, QLD, January 2012]

Near-lateral/lateral view of two Torresian Crows on a strainer post (photo courtesy of E. Scott)
[Roseberry Creek Valley, near Toonumbar NP, northern NSW, November 2016]

Close-up lateral view of a Torresian Crow
[Bunya Mountains NP, QLD, June 2017]

Close-up lateral view of a Torresian Crow walking in search of prey
[Eulah Creek, NSW, October 2022]

Lateral view of a Torresian Crow on a strainer post (photo courtesy of E. Scott)
[Roseberry Creek Valley, near Toonumbar NP, northern NSW, November 2016]

Lateral view of a Torresian Crow
[Eulah Creek, NSW, October 2013]

Lateral/ventral view of a Torresian Crow
[Eulah Creek, NSW, January 2014]

Near-dorsal view of a Torresian Crow
[Eulah Creek, NSW, October 2013]

Near-dorsal/ventral view of a Torresian Crow
[Moree, NSW, August 2012]

Near-frontal/ventral view of a Torresian Crow in flight
[Eulah Creek, NSW, October 2013]

Near-frontal/ventral view of a Torresian Crow in flight
[Eulah Creek, NSW, October 2013]

Lateral view of a Torresian Crow in flight
[Old Bar, NSW, July 2013]

Lateral/ventral view of a Torresian Crow in flight (photo courtesy of J. Greaves)
[Boolardy Station, Murchison, WA, August 2016]

Near-dorsal/ventral view of a Torresian Crow in flight
[Moree, NSW, August 2012]

IMMATURE/JUVENILE

Near-frontal/ventral view of a fledgling Torresian Crow; this bird was found still near its nest (photo courtesy of P. Brown)
[Keep River NP, NT, November 2018]

Lateral view of a juvenile Torresian Crow (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Cooroy, QLD, December 2017]

Lateral/ventral view of a ragged-looking juvenile Torresian Crow; the pinkish gape indicates that this is a young bird
(photo courtesy of B. Hensen)
[Darwin, NT, August 2013]

Breeding information

Breeding season: Aug - Mar

Eggs: 3 - 5

Incubation period: 20 days

Fledging age: ca. 40 days

The breeding season of Torresian Crows depends a lot on geographic latitude.

Nest building: Female & male

Incubation: Female

Dependent care: Male

While incubating and tending to the young, the female is fed on the nest by the male.

Nest

"bungobittah", "lar", "malunna", "jindi" [bundjalung] = nest [Aboriginal]

Type: Basket

Material: Sticks, possibly grass lining

Height above ground: >10(?) m

The nest is built high up in the canopy of a live tree.

Close-up view of a Torresian Crow nest (photo courtesy of E. Scott)
[Roseberry Creek Valley, near Toonumbar NP, northern NSW, July 2017]

Close-up view of a Torresian Crow nest, now from a different angle (photo courtesy of E. Scott)
[Roseberry Creek Valley, near Toonumbar NP, northern NSW, August 2017]

Torresian Crow nest with one of its owners nearby; this bird's calls were recorded on 3 August 2017
(photo courtesy of E. Scott)
[Roseberry Creek Valley, near Toonumbar NP, northern NSW, August 2017]

Torresian Crow on its nest; note the small size of the nest, which is typical for the species - this bird's calls were recorded on 3 August 2017 (photo courtesy of E. Scott)
[Roseberry Creek Valley, near Toonumbar NP, northern NSW, August 2017]

Torresian Crow at its nest (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Town of 1770, QLD, September 2017]

Although Torresian Crows have only one brood per season, here is an adult that looks like brooding with a fledging-age chick on the edge of the nest and another fledgling nearby (photo courtesy of P. Brown)
[Keep River NP, NT, November 2018]

Torresian Crow on its nest
[Eulah Creek, NSW, September 2022]

Eggs

"boyanga", "booyanga", "derinya", "dirandil", "koomura", "mirk", "ngampu", "nooluk", "pateena", "pum-pum" = Egg; "dirundirri" = eggs [Aboriginal]; "gawu" = eggs [gamilaraay]

Size: 45 x 30 mm

Colour: Greyish, with light-brown speckles

Shape: Tapered oval

Behaviour

Social behaviour: Communal

Mobility: Sedentary/nomadic

Elementary unit: Flock

Adult Torresian Crows tend to be sedentary, while juvenile and immature birds are nomadic.

Torresian Crows can be found in a variety of habitats, in this case in an estuary
[Urunga board walk, Urunga Heads, NSW, March 2015]

Dorsal view of a Torresian Crow checking whether an Eastern Grey Kangaroo, while scraping out its pad, has disturbed something edible
[Eulah Creek, NSW, January 2019]

Lateral view of a Torresian Crow taking a shower under a garden sprinkler
[Eulah Creek, NSW, January 2018]

Lateral view of a soaking wet Torresian Crow after a shower under a garden sprinkler; this bird was observed with its upper body full on in the sprinkler's spray
[Eulah Creek, NSW, January 2018]

Torresian Crow throat hackle found where the two birds shown above had their shower
[Eulah Creek, NSW, January 2018]

One Torresian Crow begging another for a preen...
[Eulah Creek, NSW, January 2019]

... and getting it; such behaviour is part of a bonding ritual
[Eulah Creek, NSW, January 2019]

The down of young Torresian Crows can be light-grey
[Eulah Creek, NSW, January 2019]

In a close encounter, a juvenile Torresian Crow and a juvenile Australian Magpie could not decide who was the strongest of the two...
[Eulah Creek, NSW, November 2022]

... so it was decided that both will share access to water
[Eulah Creek, NSW, November 2022]

Juvenile Torresian Crow vs. Nankeen Kestrel, in an argument over who was going to roost in a nearby tree; for audio click here
[Eulah Creek, NSW, January 2023]

Food, Diet

Adults: Omnivore

Dependents: ?

Water intake: Daily?

Like all other members of the Corvus family, Torresian Crows are omnivores. They feed on carrion, dead fish, insects, fruit and food scraps. They have also learned to kill and feed on Cane Toads.

Frontal view of a Torresian Crow taking a beetle
[Eulah Creek, NSW, October 2022]

Lateral view of a Torresian Crow trying to overpower a female Goliath Stick Insect (Eurycnema goliath) using its startle display for protection
[Eulah Creek, NSW, February 2023]

Lateral view of a Torresian Crow putting down its prey, then having a drink of water, and then coming back to pick up its prey again
[Eulah Creek, NSW, October 2022]

Lateral view of a Torresian Crow swallowing its prey after having had a drink first
[Eulah Creek, NSW, October 2022]

This is the Torresian Crow's unidentified prey
[Eulah Creek, NSW, October 2022]

Call(s)/Song

For this species we have recorded the following call(s)/song. The interpretation of their meaning is our own; comments and suggestions for improvement are welcome.

torcrow_me_20240612.m4a	cecilae (Far-N QLD)	Contact call	© ME
torcrow_me_20240612_2.m4a	cecilae (Far-N QLD)	Contact calls	© ME
torcrow_20200715_3.m4a	cecilae (NE NSW)	Contact calls	© MD
torcrow_20160920.m4a	cecilae (NE NSW)	Contact calls	© MD
torcrow_20200627.m4a	cecilae (NE NSW)	Contact calls (in-flight)	© MD
torcrow_20210324.m4a	cecilae (NW NSW)	Contact calls (Q&A, mob in-flight)	© MD
torcrow_20221004_3.mp3	cecilae (NW NSW)	Contact calls(?), at nest	© MD
torcrow_20220927_2.mp3	cecilae (NW NSW)	Contact calls(?), at nest	© MD
torcrow_art_20131122.m4a	cecilae (SE QLD)	Group Q&A	© ART
torcrow_20190310.m4a	cecilae (NW NSW)	"Cawing"	© MD
torcrow_20200715.m4a	cecilae (NW NSW)	"Cawing", Q&A	© MD
torcrow_20200715_2.m4a	cecilae (NW NSW)	"Cawing" + departure	© MD
torcrow_20251025.m4a	cecilae (NW NSW)	Departure (4)	© MD
torcrow_20190123.m4a	cecilae (NW NSW)	Various (adult + juvenile)	© MD
torcrow_20221004_2.mp3	cecilae (NW NSW)	Chasing Common Mynas from near nest	© MD
torcrow_20220927.mp3	cecilae (NW NSW)	? (at nest)	© MD
nankest_20230130_2.mp3	cenchroides (NW NSW)	Upset (roost competition with Nankeen Kestrel)	© MD
torcrow_20221105.mp3	cecilae (NW NSW)	Begging juveniles & being fed (+ Willie Wagtail)	© MD
torcrow_20221004_4.mp3	cecilae (NW NSW)	Begging nestlings	© MD
torcrow_20221004.mp3	cecilae (NW NSW)	Begging nestlings	© MD
torcrow_me_20240612_3.m4a	cecilae (Far-N QLD)	?	© ME

More Torresian Crow sound recordings are available at xeno-canto.org .

These pages are largely based on our own observations and those of our contributors. The structure of these bird pages is explained HERE. For more salient facts on any bird species please refer to a field guide.

Would you like to contribute photos or sound recordings to this site? If interested, please CLICK HERE. Credits to contributors are given HERE.