White-necked Raven

The White-necked Raven, Corvus albicollis, has a much shorter tail and a deeper bill with a white tip that is strongly arched (almost as much as the Thick-billed Raven). Though mostly black, the throat, breast and neck are a blackish-brown in colour, with a faint purple gloss. There is a large patch of white feathers on the back of the lower neck.

These Ravens gather in flocks along the coast and have been known to take food from tables, out of bowls left on windowsills and even from inside the house. They are not shy and quite inquisitive, fighting each other for scraps of plastic, strips of cloth or even dog biscuits.

It's voice is often described as a raven with a sore throat, it has very similar calls to the Common Raven, but with a more husky note. It has a croak like the raven but with a more whispering note added. 

This almost silhouette photograph of a white necked Raven shows the thick bill and white marking on the neck quite clearly. It was photographed at the end of the day, perched and waiting at the hotel's dump-site, from where it scavenges whatever is available.

Most of this birds food is obtained from the ground, but it will take food from trees also. It has been seen to drop a tortoise from a height on to hard ground, preferably on rocks, and then swoop down to eat it, or even pick it up again if not sufficiently broken. White-necked Ravens will also readily take carrion from road kills. Fruit, grain, insects, small reptiles, peanuts and human food are also readily taken and if not persecuted, will forage in back yards and gardens quite openly.

It is often in the company of other scavengers such as kites or vultures and here in the valley, congregate with crows and common ravens.  We have, on several occasions, heard dogs yelping, even barking, tunes being whistled and goats and children alike calling...only to discover that it is a raven, imitating these sounds.

A search on the internet delivers a host of videos featuring ravens as pets and their owners are astounded at the intelligence of these birds. Avianweb is a good site if what you are looking for is to assist a sick bird as it also lists syndromes, symptoms and possible sicknesses.

As for breeding, nests are a bowl of sticks lined with grass hair and wool found mainly on a cliff ledge but will occasionally nest in a tree. There are usually 3-5 eggs laid.

Sources:
Wikipedia

Avianweb.com

http://www.avianweb.com/whiteneckedravens.html