CONSPICUOUSLY BLACK AND WHITE 889 
487. WHITE-NECKED RAVEN. — Corvus cryptoleucus. 
Famity: The Crows, Jays, Magpies, ete. 
Length: 18.75-21.00. 
Adults: Entire plumage iridescent black, with purplish lights, except 
the feathers of neck, which are white at base. 
Geographical Distribution: Southwestern United States, principally in 
the lower Sonoran zone, from Texas to Southern California and from 
Southern Colorado south to Mexico, 
California Breeding Range: Southern part of the State in lower Sonoran 
zone. 
Breeding Season: May 6 to July 1. 
Nest: Poorly constructed and somewhat larger than those of our common 
crow ; made of thorny twigs ; lined with cattle hair, rabbit fur, bark, 
grass, and moss ; placed from 7 to 20 feet from the ground. 
Eggs: 3 to8; pale green, with longitudinal streaks and blotches of gray, 
brown, and lavender, extending from end to end of the egg, and par- 
tially hidden by spots and blotches of brown. Size 1.74 X 1.19. 
To the careless observer the White-necked Raven 
differs from the American raven only in being more 
slender and slightly smaller, the white of the neck being 
at the base of the feathers and not conspicuous. In 
appearance and voice as well as size, they resemble 
closely the common crows, though more than an inch 
longer. Their nests are placed in giant yucca, cactus, 
mesquite, or other low bushes, and occasionally in oaks 
or willows. In structure they resemble the nest of a 
crow, being loosely thrown together of twigs and lined 
with hair from cattle. Old nests are repaired and used 
year after year, until they become exceedingly offensive 
from filth. 
Incubation begins after the set of eggs is completed, 
and lasts twenty-one days, only one brood being raised 
each season. 
