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Difference between revisions of "Carrion Crow" - BirdForum Opus

(Identification and similar species)
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[[Image:Carrion_Crow.jpg|thumb|550px|right|Photo by {{user|RichUK|RichUK}}]]
 
[[Image:Carrion_Crow.jpg|thumb|550px|right|Photo by {{user|RichUK|RichUK}}]]
'''Alternative names: Common Crow; Eurasian Crow; Oriental Crow (''orientalis''); Mesopotamian Crow (''capellanus'')'''
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'''Alternative names: Common Crow; Eurasian Crow; Oriental Crow (''orientalis'')'''
 
;[[:Category:Corvus|Corvus]] corone
 
;[[:Category:Corvus|Corvus]] corone
'''Includes [[Hooded Crow]]'''
 
 
==Identification==
 
==Identification==
 
48-54cm. A compact crow:
 
48-54cm. A compact crow:
* ''Corone'' and ''orientalis'' with all black plumage with a green or purple sheen
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* All black plumage with a green or purple sheen
* Hooded Crow with black hood, ashy grey nape, side of neck, mantle, scapulars, rump and some uppertail-coverts. Rest black.
 
 
* Dark brown iris
 
* Dark brown iris
 
* Black, stout bill
 
* Black, stout bill
 
* Legs dark grey to black
 
* Legs dark grey to black
[[Image:Hooded Crow 41.jpg|thumb|350px|right|Hooded Crow <br />Photo by {{user|Donald+Talbott|Donald Talbott}}<br />Keszthely, Lake Balaton, [[Hungary]], May 2009]]
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Sexes similar, juveniles with duller plumage. Hybrids between ''corone'' and [[Hooded Crow]] occur regularly.   
Sexes similar, juveniles with duller plumage. Hybrids between ''corone'' and ''cornix'' (or other subspecies) occur regularly.   
 
 
====Similar species====
 
====Similar species====
Corone may be confused with young [[Rook]]. The shape of head and the flight are quite different.
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''Corone'' may be confused with young [[Rook]]. The shape of head and the flight are quite different.
 
==Distribution==
 
==Distribution==
 +
[[Image:PAL8074CARRIONCROW.jpg|thumb|350px|right|Carrion Crow in flight<br />Photo by {{user|I4ani|I4ani}}<br />Dartmoor, Devon, [[UK]], 2010]]
 
Most of western [[Europe]] to the most eastern points of northern [[Asia]].<br />
 
Most of western [[Europe]] to the most eastern points of northern [[Asia]].<br />
 
Common or abundant in most of its range despite persecution by gamekeepers and farmers.
 
Common or abundant in most of its range despite persecution by gamekeepers and farmers.
 
==Taxonomy==
 
==Taxonomy==
 +
Was formerly considered conspecific with [[Hooded Crow]].
 
====Subspecies<sup>[[#References|1]]</sup>====
 
====Subspecies<sup>[[#References|1]]</sup>====
 +
Two subspecies accepted:
 
*''C. c. corone'' - Western [[Europe]]
 
*''C. c. corone'' - Western [[Europe]]
 
*''C. c. orientalis'' - [[Iran]] to northern [[China]], [[Korea]] and [[Japan]]
 
*''C. c. orientalis'' - [[Iran]] to northern [[China]], [[Korea]] and [[Japan]]
[[Image:PAL8074CARRIONCROW.jpg|thumb|350px|right|Carrion Crow in flight<br />Photo by {{user|I4ani|I4ani}}<br />Dartmoor, Devon, [[UK]], 2010]]
 
Hooded Crow ''cornix'' complex:
 
*''C. c. cornix'' - Northern [[Europe]] to Yenisey Valley, [[Ukraine]], [[Corsica]] and southern [[Italy]]
 
*''C. c. sharpii'' - Mainland [[Italy]] to [[Yugoslavia]], [[Asia Minor]], northern Iran and [[Kazakhstan]]
 
*''C. c. pallescens'' - Coastal southern [[Turkey]] to [[Levant]], northern [[Iraq]] and [[Egypt]]
 
*''C. c. capellanus'' - Southern [[Iraq]] and adjacent south-western [[Iran]]
 
====Status of Hooded Crow ''corvix'' complex====
 
Clements (2007) treats Hooded Crow (''C. (corone?) cornix'', including ''sharpii'', ''pallescens'', and ''capellanus'') as a full species, citing the recommendation of Parkin et al. (2003)<sup>[[#References|2]]</sup>. However, Howard & Moore (2003) and Sibley & Monroe (1996) retain the Hooded Crow ''cornix'' complex within Carrion Crow (''C. corone'') and the Opus awaits further clarification. See BirdForum threads discussing this taxonomic discrepancy [http://www.birdforum.net/showthread.php?t=102015 here] and [http://birdforum.net/showthread.php?t=119618 here].
 
 
==Habitat==
 
==Habitat==
 
Found almost anywhere from coast to moorland, even city centres. <sup>[[#References|3]]</sup>
 
Found almost anywhere from coast to moorland, even city centres. <sup>[[#References|3]]</sup>
 
==Behaviour==
 
==Behaviour==
 
Ingenious adaption to all urban environments and intelligent. Can be observed sitting atop of trafficlights and dropping hardcased nuts onto the streets below so to make use of the crushing effects of traffic; and will retrieve the contents at a 'red' signal.
 
Ingenious adaption to all urban environments and intelligent. Can be observed sitting atop of trafficlights and dropping hardcased nuts onto the streets below so to make use of the crushing effects of traffic; and will retrieve the contents at a 'red' signal.
[[Image:IMG 9834.jpg|thumb|350px|right|Hooded Crow in flight<br />Photo by {{user|Macswede|Macswede}}<br />Solberga, Stockholm, [[Sweden]], April 2009]]
 
 
====Diet====
 
====Diet====
 
The diet includes carrion, insects, worms, seeds, fruit and scraps.
 
The diet includes carrion, insects, worms, seeds, fruit and scraps.
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{{ref}}
 
{{ref}}
 
==External Links==
 
==External Links==
{{GSearch|Corvus+corone}}  
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{{GSearch|Corvus+corone}}
 
<br />
 
<br />
 
{{Video|Carrion_Crow}}
 
{{Video|Carrion_Crow}}
 +
Threads about taxonomy of Hooded and Carrion Crow:<br />
 +
[http://www.birdforum.net/showthread.php?t=102015] and [http://birdforum.net/showthread.php?t=119618]
 
[[Category:Birds]][[Category:Corvus]][[Category:Bird Songs]][[Category:Videos]]
 
[[Category:Birds]][[Category:Corvus]][[Category:Bird Songs]][[Category:Videos]]

Revision as of 14:04, 3 April 2011

Photo by RichUK

Alternative names: Common Crow; Eurasian Crow; Oriental Crow (orientalis)

Corvus corone

Identification

48-54cm. A compact crow:

  • All black plumage with a green or purple sheen
  • Dark brown iris
  • Black, stout bill
  • Legs dark grey to black

Sexes similar, juveniles with duller plumage. Hybrids between corone and Hooded Crow occur regularly.

Similar species

Corone may be confused with young Rook. The shape of head and the flight are quite different.

Distribution

Carrion Crow in flight
Photo by I4ani
Dartmoor, Devon, UK, 2010

Most of western Europe to the most eastern points of northern Asia.
Common or abundant in most of its range despite persecution by gamekeepers and farmers.

Taxonomy

Was formerly considered conspecific with Hooded Crow.

Subspecies1

Two subspecies accepted:

Habitat

Found almost anywhere from coast to moorland, even city centres. 3

Behaviour

Ingenious adaption to all urban environments and intelligent. Can be observed sitting atop of trafficlights and dropping hardcased nuts onto the streets below so to make use of the crushing effects of traffic; and will retrieve the contents at a 'red' signal.

Diet

The diet includes carrion, insects, worms, seeds, fruit and scraps.

Breeding

Breeding season generally in northern spring. A pair stays often together over several years and throughout the year. Usually a solitary nester. The large nest is built by both sexes and is made out of sticks. It's usually placed high in a tall tree. Nests on buildings, electricity pylons or cliffs are also known. Lays 4 eggs. The chicks leave the nest after 32 days. In some parts of the range Great Spotted Cuckoo may parasitize the nest.

Vocalisation

<flashmp3>Corvus corone (song).mp3</flashmp3>
Listen in an external program

References

  1. Clements, James F. 2007. The Clements Checklist of Birds of the World. 6th ed., with updates to October 2007. Ithaca: Cornell University Press. ISBN 9780801445019
  2. Parkin, D.T., M. Collison, A. Helbig, A.G. Knox, and G. Sangster. 2003. "The taxonomic status of Carrion and Hooded Crows." British Birds. 96 (6): 274–90.
  3. RSPB
  4. Del Hoyo, J, A Elliott, and D Christie, eds. 2009. Handbook of the Birds of the World. Volume 14: Bush-shrikes to Old World Sparrows. Barcelona: Lynx Edicions. ISBN 978-8496553507

Recommended Citation

External Links


Threads about taxonomy of Hooded and Carrion Crow:
[1] and [2]

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