Ethiopian Bush-crow
Zavattariornis stresemanni
- Family
- Crows, Jays, and Magpies (Corvidae)
- Order
- Passeriformes
Overview
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.
Summary from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Diet: Insects dug from the soil and dung.
How to identify it
- Pale grey with a black face mask
- Bare blue skin around the eye
- Lives in small groups in acacia savanna
Voice
Harsh chattering calls.
Where to see it
- Yabelo, southern Ethiopia
Range and habitat
Southern Ethiopia (Sidamo Province).
Range description: AviList Global Avian Checklist.
Sources and further reading
- Wikipedia: Ethiopian bushcrow
- eBird: sightings, maps and photos
- xeno-canto: sound recordings
- Birds of the World: full species account (subscription)
- BirdLife DataZone: status and threats
- IUCN Red List (threat status)
- AviList global checklist (taxonomy)
Last updated September 29, 2026.