From Opus

Photo by jvhigbee
Photo taken: Washington, USA.

Corvus caurinus

[edit] Identification

A large (41cm length, 86cm wingspan), all-black bird that is virtually indistinguisable in the field from the much more common American Crow except by range. Slightly smaller than the latter.

[edit] Distribution

Pacific Coast of North America from Puget Sound area north to Gulf of Alaska

[edit] Taxonomy

This is a monotypic species.

[edit] Habitat

Beaches and shorelines are the principal forage areas.

[edit] Behaviour

[edit] Diet

Includes stranded fish, shellfish, crabs and mussels; it also searches through refuse containers for suitable food items. It also regularly eats insects, other invertebrates, and various fruits (especially berries). It raids other birds' nests to eat eggs and hatchlings.

[edit] Breeding

4-5 eggs usually laid.

[edit] Voice

Very varied, and many types of call are made, but the most common are usually described as a high pitched caw and the sound of a cork coming out of a bottle.
A wok-wok-wok is given by a bird in flight if straggling behind the group, and various clicks and mechanical sounding rattles are also heard.

[edit] External Links