NATURAL HISTORY · CATALOGUE RECORD
'Alala
Corvus hawaiiensis Peale, 1849
Source-backed taxonomic record
Accepted species in Catalogue of Life’s 11 September 2026 base release. This preserves the source classification and available supporting data; it is not a completed species monograph.
Open encyclopedia reference
The Hawaiian crow or ʻalalā (Corvus hawaiiensis) is a species of bird in the crow family, Corvidae, that is currently extinct in the wild, though reintroduction programs are underway. It is about the size of the carrion crow at 48–50 cm (19–20 in) in length, but with more rounded wings and a much thicker bill. It has soft, brownish-black plumage and long, bristly throat feathers; the feet, legs, and bill are black. Today, the Hawaiian crow is considered the most endangered of the family Corvidae. They are recorded to have lived up to 18 years in the wild, and 28 years in captivity. Some Native Hawaiians consider the Hawaiian crow an ʻaumakua (family god).
The species is known for its strong flying ability and resourcefulness, and the reasons for its various extirpations are not fully understood. It is thought that introduced diseases, introduced predators, and habitat loss were probably significant factors in the species' decline.
Wikipedia contributors, Hawaiian crow; see linked history · CC BY-SA 4.0 . Plain-text lead excerpt, at most 180 words; no infobox or later sections Retrieved 2026-10-05T01:20:56.033519+00:00. This reference remains separate from the taxonomic record.
Identity & source status
- Scientific name
- Corvus hawaiiensis Peale, 1849
- Name authority
- Peale, 1849
- Common name
- 'Alala
- Rank
- species
- Accepted status
- accepted
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Chordata
- Class
- Aves
- Order
- Passeriformes
- Family
- Corvidae
- Genus
- Corvus
- Extinction status
- Recorded extant
Classification family tree
Nested taxonomic groups from the source. This is not a direct-ancestor chain, a dated evolutionary tree or a phylogenetic reconstruction.
- domainEukaryota (Chatton, 1925) Whittaker & Margulis, 1978
- kingdomAnimalia
- phylumChordata
- subphylumVertebrata
- infraphylumGnathostomata
- parvphylumOsteichthyes
- megaclassTetrapoda
- classAves
- orderPasseriformes
- familyCorvidae Leach, 1820
- genusCorvus Linnaeus, 1758
- speciesCorvus hawaiiensis Peale, 1849
Close classified relatives
These entries share the source’s genus, Corvus. They are not necessarily the closest relatives established by molecular evidence.
| Species | Classification | Source status |
|---|---|---|
| Brown-headed CrowCorvus fuscicapillus G. R. Gray, 1859 | CorvidaeChordata | Accepted speciesRecorded extant |
| Samar CrowCorvus samarensis Steere, 1890 | CorvidaeChordata | Accepted speciesRecorded extant |
| Philippine Jungle CrowCorvus philippinus (Bonaparte, 1853) | CorvidaeChordata | Accepted speciesRecorded extant |
| Little CrowCorvus bennetti North, 1901 | CorvidaeChordata | Accepted speciesRecorded extant |
| Northern RavenCorvus corax Linnaeus, 1758 | CorvidaeChordata | Accepted speciesRecorded extant |
| Hooded CrowCorvus cornix Linnaeus, 1758 | CorvidaeChordata | Accepted speciesRecorded extant |
| Carrion CrowCorvus corone Linnaeus, 1758 | CorvidaeChordata | Accepted speciesRecorded extant |
| Thick-billed RavenCorvus crassirostris Rüppell, 1836 | CorvidaeChordata | Accepted speciesRecorded extant |
| Chihuahuan RavenCorvus cryptoleucus Couch, 1854 | CorvidaeChordata | Accepted speciesRecorded extant |
| Indian Jungle CrowCorvus culminatus Sykes, 1832 | CorvidaeChordata | Accepted speciesRecorded extant |
| Somali CrowCorvus edithae Lort Phillips, 1895 | CorvidaeChordata | Accepted speciesRecorded extant |
| Flores CrowCorvus florensis Büttikofer, 1894 | CorvidaeChordata | Accepted speciesRecorded extant |
Names & synonyms
Names explicitly linked to this accepted taxon in the source. Synonymy can change with revision.
| Recorded name | Source status |
|---|---|
| Corvus tropicus Kerr, 1792 Kerr, 1792 | synonym |
Documented distribution
Source distribution statements, not a complete range map. A listed locality is not necessarily a place of origin.
Source literature & publication evidence
References attached to this source record, including nomenclatural citations where supplied. This is a selected bibliography; abbreviated citations remain in the source’s form.
- Peale, & Titian Ramsay. (1849). United States Exploring Expedition during the Years 1838, 1839, 1840, 1841, 1842, under the Command of Charles Wilkes, U.S.N. Vol. 8: Mammalia and Ornithology, 1st Edition. Source fields: Taxon.tsv dwc:namePublishedIn, Taxon.tsv dcterms:references
Origins, evidence & remaining research
Name authority and publication references document nomenclature where the source supplies it. They do not establish evolutionary origins or the earliest fossil occurrence.
Specimen-level evidence, morphology, ecological research, phylogenetic studies, a comprehensive bibliography and a located literary passage have not yet been compiled for this record. A suitable sourced image remains to be added.
Dataset citation & attribution
This exact taxon in ChecklistBank · Catalogue of Life 2026-09-11
Catalogue of Life 2026-09-11; dataset 316321; doi:10.48580/dgz5n. https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ . Retrieved 5 October 2026.
Stable key: col:YNHV. Classification follows source parent identifiers. English common names may vary by region.