The voice is a loud "kaaar" repeated several times with other slight variations on it to suit the occasion.

It also like many other corvids, utters strange clipping and clicking sounds during its head bowing display to another bird.

The range of this species is essentially China, covering large areas of the country though not further north than Beijing.

It occurs in plains and low lying river valleys in fairly open country and cultivated regions and is a common sight in paddy fields.

It was classified as least concern by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature in 2004 before being upgraded to near threatened status in 2008.