Whipperen {Corvus Albiceps}

In this article, we will be covering one of the more elusive monsters, the Whipperen, Corvus Albiceps.^[1] The name comes from the "Whipper-ren-ren" call that they make when disturbed, so it does make sense. I promise it's not just gibberish.
To be perfectly honest, we don't know very much about them (though I suppose it wouldn't be cryptozoology if all the cryptids bumped their heads against your door in broad daylight with a light source in hand.^[2]) But we have had enough sightings and remains found to make at least a preliminary report on them. It will, of course, be updated as we learn more, but for now this is what we can offer on them.


[1] - For those who don't understand binomial nomenclature (which is most people) "Corvus" means raven (though nowadays "Corvid" is mostly synonymous with crow) and "Albiceps" means white-headed. So put simply, their scientific name means "white-headed raven". And, if you don't know what "binominal nomenclature" means, it is a two-name naming system. The first name identifies it's genus (the larger family it belongs to, like how dogs are of Canis, the family containing wolves and jackals and such) and the second identifies the creature itself. (Like how the second name of a dog, familiaris, shows that it is domesticated.) Such names make it easier to identify and find information on creatures; a binominal name is completely unique. There will only ever be one species with the name "Canis Familiaris", and it will always be the dog.

[2] - That did actually happen once though, and it was a wonderful day for cryptozoological researchers in Argyle. There's a report on the specific creature and encounter in the twentieth issue (11/22/07).

Basic Information

Anatomy

Corvus Albiceps is a corvid. Though it is large, it has the same basic anatomical structure as any other corvid; two broad wings, two legs with four toes arranged in an anisodactyic fashion (three toes at the front, one at the back) and a long broad beak, though its is rather broader than most corvids. Its legs are much longer than most other corvids, too, (and it has what our local ornithologist describes as "booties" or, more accurately, heavy feathering down the legs to halfway.) It has particularly small wings, and this combined with its long legs implies that it spends more time walking or hopping from branch to branch than flying.

Ecology and Habitats

Corvus Albiceps lives in the Needlefloor forest. Not much else is known about them due to how deeply they live in the forest and the fact that they are very rarely seen by anyone for longer than a few minutes and never in good light conditions (to be fair, finding decent light in the forest is rare.) It is assumedly diurnal.

One thing that we do know about them is their remarkable method of scaring off other creatures. If they know that something dangerous is coming, they will fall to the ground and go limp, with their white, skull-like heads creating the illusion of a rotting corpse to deter predators. If that doesn't work, and the creature attempts to eat them or pick them up they screech, thrash wildly and attempt to fly away. This is made even more effective by the fact that they are often in groups; seeing twenty dead birds in a small area lying on the floor rotting is incredibly deterring, and twenty dead birds returning to life in a cacaphony of shrieking and aggravated struggling even more so.

Dietary Needs and Habits

Corvus Albiceps is assumedly omnivorous like most other corvids. It has been known to steal bird seed and small fish, so it is certainly opportunistic.

Additional Information

Facial characteristics

Around the face they are reported to have a ruff of feathers, very likely to accentuate the baldness of the face -and thus make it seem more skeletal- though it could also equally be for display purposes.

Geographic Origin and Distribution

Endemic to the Needlefloor Forest.

Average Intelligence

Corvus Albiceps is an incredibly intelligent creature. It seems to be smart enough to do things simply for the fun of them. They also seem to understand the concept of teamwork, kindness, and by one particularly curious account, bartering.

Perception and Sensory Capabilities

Hearing

Their sense of hearing is seemingly quite good, considering how well they're able to avoid people, and set up their disturbing mimicry before they're seen.

Pressure and Tactile

They can certainly feel pressure, as most birds can, and they seem to have some level of sense in their feet and beaks, since they will wipe them on branches or grass if they get wet.

Taste

Like most birds, Whipperens very likely don't have particularly refined senses of taste, though yet again, we aren't certain here.

Smell

It is widely assumed that their sense of smell is rather weak, like many birds.

Sight and visual capabilities

It is very likely that they have sharp vision, like most other corvids. Given the ridges above their eyes, though, we can assume that they can't see as well behind or above them.

Hoping you well until the next edition,

R.F. Banks
Editor-in-chief

Scientific Name

Corvus Albiceps

Average Height

50-53cm

Average Weight

2.5 kg

Average Length

43-47cm, including tail.

Body Tint, Colouring and Marking

It's feathers are, in the dark, a glossy black but when seen in enough light they carry an incredible iridescence, strong, deep purple and blue. So much so that it's very easy to tell their moulted feathers apart from any other corvid; they glisten like jewels in the sunlight. The ones we find are very soft too, so we can assume that they would be a pleasure to stroke.