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23

Torresian Crow

(Corvus orru)
Alternative names: "Australian Crow", "Large-billed Crow", "Crow*", "Kelly*"
Size: 48-53 cm
Weight: 550 g (average)

Back to the Torresian Crow main page .

Spiritual significance

The Torresian Crow, under the name of just "crow", features in Aboriginal creation stories. A few examples are reproduced or listed here.

R. A. Roberts and C. P. Mountford tell the story of "Inua's Ladder" (1968 ed.), p. 52. This story from Arnhem Land explains how (Torresian) Crow-women and their brother came to live in the sky.

R. A. Roberts and C. P. Mountford tell the story of "The Creation of the Eagle and the Crow" (1968 ed.), p. 64. This story tells how the Wedge-tailed Eagle was created and why all crows (ravens and crows in general) are black.

Disclaimer: Not being of Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander origin, we make no claim of intellectual ownership of any of the information presented here. We merely collect facts and stories documented by others. Credits/references are listed HERE.

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.

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