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Difference between revisions of "Carrion Crow" - BirdForum Opus

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[[Image:Carrion_Crow.jpg|thumb|550px|right|Photo by {{user|RichUK|RichUK}}]]
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[[Image:Corvus corone by G6 UXU.jpg|thumb|550px|right|Adult<br />Photo by {{user|G6+UXU|G6 UXU}}<br />Entwistle Reservoir, Lancashire, UK]]
'''Alternative names: Common Crow; Eurasian Crow; Oriental Crow (''orientalis''); Mesopotamian Crow (''capellanus'')'''
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'''Alternative names: Common Crow; Eurasian Crow; Oriental Crow (''C. c. 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 and pink gape when bill open. Hybrids between Carrion Crow and [[Hooded Crow]] occur regularly in a narrow band where their ranges meet.  
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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May be confused with young [[Rook]]. The shape of head and the flight are quite different.
 
==Distribution==
 
==Distribution==
Most of western [[Europe]] to the most eastern points of northern [[Asia]].<br />
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[[Image:PAL8074CARRIONCROW.jpg|thumb|350px|right|Carrion Crow in flight<br />Photo by {{user|I4ani|I4ani}}<br />Dartmoor, Devon, [[UK]], 2010]]
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Most of western [[Europe]] and a disjunct population (perhaps a separate species) in central and eastern parts 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==
====Subspecies<sup>[[#References|1]]</sup>====
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Was formerly considered conspecific with [[Hooded Crow]], which occupies central Eurasia inbetween the two subspecies of Carrion Crow. Precise relationship between the three taxa not yet settled, and possible that either Hooded may be re-lumped, or ''C. c. orientalis'' split as a third full species.
*''C. c. corone'' - Western [[Europe]]
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====Subspecies====
*''C. c. orientalis'' - [[Iran]] to northern [[China]], [[Korea]] and [[Japan]]
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Two subspecies accepted<sup>[[#References|1]]</sup>:
[[Image:PAL8074CARRIONCROW.jpg|thumb|350px|right|Carrion Crow in flight<br />Photo by {{user|I4ani|I4ani}}<br />Dartmoor, Devon, [[UK]], 2010]]
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*''C. c. corone'' - Western [[Europe]] (except Ireland and northwest Scotland)
Hooded Crow ''cornix'' complex:
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*''C. c. orientalis'' - Northeastern [[Iran]] to northern [[China]], [[Korea]] and [[Japan]]
*''C. c. cornix'' - Northern [[Europe]] to Yenisey Valley, [[Ukraine]], [[Corsica]] and southern [[Italy]]
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*''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 ''cornix'' 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>
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Found almost anywhere from coast to moorland, even city centres and intensively farmed land.<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.
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[[Image:Carrion_Crow.jpg|thumb|350px|right|Juvenile<br />Photo by {{user|RichUK|RichUK}}]]
[[Image:IMG 9834.jpg|thumb|350px|right|Hooded Crow in flight<br />Photo by {{user|Macswede|Macswede}}<br />Solberga, Stockholm, [[Sweden]], April 2009]]
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Ingenious adaption to urban environments and intelligent. Can be observed sitting atop of trafficlights and dropping hard-shelled nuts onto the streets below so to make use of the crushing effects of traffic; and will wait to retrieve the contents at a 'red' signal.
 
====Diet====
 
====Diet====
 
The diet includes carrion, insects, worms, seeds, fruit and scraps.
 
The diet includes carrion, insects, worms, seeds, fruit and scraps.
 
====Breeding====
 
====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.
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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 four eggs. The chicks leave the nest after 32 days. In some parts of the range [[Great Spotted Cuckoo]] may parasitise the nest.
 
====Vocalisation====
 
====Vocalisation====
 
<flashmp3>Corvus corone (song).mp3</flashmp3><br />
 
<flashmp3>Corvus corone (song).mp3</flashmp3><br />
Line 43: Line 36:
 
==References==
 
==References==
 
# 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
 
# 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
# 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.
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# Parkin, D. T., Collison, M., Helbig, A., Knox, A. G., & Sangster, G. (2003). The taxonomic status of Carrion and Hooded Crows. ''British Birds'' 96 (6): 274–290.
 
#RSPB
 
#RSPB
 
#{{Ref-HBWVol14}}
 
#{{Ref-HBWVol14}}
 
{{ref}}
 
{{ref}}
 
==External Links==
 
==External Links==
{{GSearch|Corvus+corone}}  
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{{GSearch|Corvus+corone}}
 
<br />
 
<br />
 
{{Video|Carrion_Crow}}
 
{{Video|Carrion_Crow}}
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Threads about taxonomy of Hooded and Carrion Crow:<br />
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[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 00:23, 14 December 2014

Adult
Photo by G6 UXU
Entwistle Reservoir, Lancashire, UK

Alternative names: Common Crow; Eurasian Crow; Oriental Crow (C. c. 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 and pink gape when bill open. Hybrids between Carrion Crow and Hooded Crow occur regularly in a narrow band where their ranges meet.

Similar species

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 and a disjunct population (perhaps a separate species) in central and eastern parts 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, which occupies central Eurasia inbetween the two subspecies of Carrion Crow. Precise relationship between the three taxa not yet settled, and possible that either Hooded may be re-lumped, or C. c. orientalis split as a third full species.

Subspecies

Two subspecies accepted1:

  • C. c. corone - Western Europe (except Ireland and northwest Scotland)
  • C. c. orientalis - Northeastern Iran to northern China, Korea and Japan

Habitat

Found almost anywhere from coast to moorland, even city centres and intensively farmed land.3

Behaviour

Juvenile
Photo by RichUK

Ingenious adaption to urban environments and intelligent. Can be observed sitting atop of trafficlights and dropping hard-shelled nuts onto the streets below so to make use of the crushing effects of traffic; and will wait to 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 four eggs. The chicks leave the nest after 32 days. In some parts of the range Great Spotted Cuckoo may parasitise 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., Collison, M., Helbig, A., Knox, A. G., & Sangster, G. (2003). The taxonomic status of Carrion and Hooded Crows. British Birds 96 (6): 274–290.
  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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