Abnormalities can be found in all life forms--corvids included. Here are some interesting photos I found of corvids with two abnormalities deformed beaks and partial albino-ism--leucistic or albino corvids.
Leucistic (partially-albino) crow
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Albino Steller's Jay
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Leucistic (partially-albino) magpie (Photo from Messybeast.com)
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Leucistic (partially-albino) Jackdaw (Photo Source: Surfbirds.com)
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Raven with a deformed bill
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Crow with deformed beak
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Crow with deformed beak
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Steller's Jay with deformed beak
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Read about THE MYSTERY OF THE LONG-BEAK SYNDROME here. Or you can read Passerines with Deformed Bills by Julie A. Craves (an article) here.
There seems to be a high concentration of birds with deformed beaks in the Pacific Northwest--I wonder why.
The corvid family is big. I have to start somewhere in these posts so I have randomly chosen the Plush-crested Jay, Cyanocorax chrysops. It is a magnificent bird---so beautiful and brilliant colors. I saw this photograph and it enticed me to pick it!
Plush-crested Jay
How could I resist such a pretty bird?
It lives in the central-southern part of South America: Brazil, Bolivia, Paraguay, Uruguay and northeastern Argentina.
The Plush-crested Jay normally live in groups of up to 10 or 12 others. They also are found accompanying the Purplish Jay to feed. The Plush-crested Jay forages actively, hopping and peering about on branches and in foliage. They have a very loud and arresting call, which serves to draw attention to them. Like many corvids the Plush-crested Jay can also mimic other birds and are very sociable. Unlike crows, they are not shy at all.
