Slender-billed Crow (Corvus enca) [XC57651]
by Frank Lambert from Kinabatangan Jungle Camp, Lower Kinabatangan River, Sabah, Borneo, Malaysia (call)
(Corvus enca) [XC359661]
by Peter Boesman from Kawag Danum, Sabah, Borneo, Malaysia (call)
Subspecies
Until recently Banggai Crow (Corvus unicolor) treated as subspecies of present species. Subspecies form two groups, "nominate group" (also with compilator, celebensis and mangoli) and "violaceus group" (including also sierramadrensis, pusillus and samarensis); these may represent two separate species, or possible that subspecies in latter group, which differ vocally, consist of more than one species. Further study is required. Birds on Mentawai Is (off Sumatra) traditionally included in nominate subspecies, but this seems unlikely. Birds from Banggai Is (off eastern Sulawesi) included in celebensis but may belong with mangoli. Birds reported on Karakelong (in Talaud Is) and Siau placed with celebensis, but confirmation of subspecies needed. Recent sight record of a family party of crows resembling present species on western coast of Sumba, in Lesser Sundas, may represent an undescribed taxon.
The following 8 subspecies are recognised:
compilator Richmond, 1903 - Peninsular Malaysia, Sumatra (including Simeulue and Nias I, off western coast) and Borneo.
enca (Horsfield, 1822) - Mentawai Is (off western Sumatra), Java and Bali.
celebensis Stresemann, 1936 - Sulawesi (and nearby small islands of Manterawu, Manadotua, Lembeh, Bangka, Talisei, Togian Is, Salayar, Basa, Buton, Bonerate and Tukangbesi Group), Banggai Is and Talaud Is.
mangoli Vaurie, 1958 - Sula Is, off eastern Sulawesi.
sierramadrensis Rand & Rabor, 1961 - Mountains of northern and central Luzon, in northern Philippines.
pusillus Tweeddale, 1878 - Mindoro, Calamian Group and Palawan (and nearby Dadagican and Balabac), in western Philippines.
samarensis Steere, 1890 - Samar and Mindanao, in southern Philippines.
violaceus Bonaparte, 1850 - Seram and Ambon, possibly also Buru, in southern Moluccas. Considered by some authors to be a distinct species, Violet Crow (Corvus violaceus).
BirdLife International Species Factsheet