General

Tamaulipas Crow: Small crow, shiny black overall with purple-tinted upperparts and duller purple to blue-green tinted underparts. Bill is small and short. Sexes are similar.

Range and Habitat

Tamaulipas Crow: This species has a very limited range. It is found only along the Gulf Coast of Mexico from the Rio Grande River Valley south to central Mexico. It is a regular visitor to extreme southern Texas. These birds prefer arid country with thickets and brush such as mesquite; also ranches and farms, as is also found along woodland streams.

Breeding and Nesting

Tamaulipas Crow: Four to five blue to blue-gray eggs with brown or olive buff streaks are laid in a nest made of sticks and plant fibers, lined with softer materials, and built in a tree. Incubation ranges from 17 to 18 days and is carried out by the female.

Foraging and Feeding

Tamaulipas Crow: Eats insects, grains, carrion, refuse, eggs and young of other birds, and some fruits. Walks and hops on the ground as it forages.

Readily Eats

Peanuts

Vocalization

Tamaulipas Crow: Call is a throaty "craw" or "khurr", or sometimes a shrieking "creow." Also makes a low guttural croaking similar to a frog.

Similar Species

Tamaulipas Crow: Chihuahuan Raven is larger with wedge-shaped tail. American Crow is slightly larger, but best distinguished by voice. Great-tailed Grackle has white yellow eyes, longer keel-shaped tail, and purple sheen.