From Opus

Includes Hooded Crow

Photo by RichUK

Corvus corone

[edit] Identification

48-52cm. All black with a green or purple sheen, black bill, legs and feet, stout bill.

[edit] Distribution

Most western Europe to the most eastern points of northern Asia.

[edit] Taxonomy

[edit] Subspecies¹

• C. c. corone - W Europe
• C. c. orientalis - Iran to n China, Korea and Japan

Hooded Crow corvix complex:

• C. c. cornix - N Europe to Yenisey Valley, Ukraine, Corsica and s Italy
• C. c. sharpii - Mainland Italy to Yugoslavia, Asia Minor, n Iran and Kazakhstan
• C. c. pallescens - Coastal s Turkey to Levant, n Iraq and Egypt
• C. c. capellanus - S Iraq and adjacent sw Iran

[edit] 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)². 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 here and here.

[edit] Habitat

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

[edit] 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.

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

[edit] Vocalisation

[edit] 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

[edit] External Links