(lumped with carrion crow) |
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| − | + | [[Image:Corvus cornix cornix, Antrim, Northern Ireland.jpg|thumb|550px|right|''Corvus cornix cornix'', adult<br/>Photo by {{user|Ptarmi|Ptarmi}}<br/>County Antrim, [[Northern Ireland]], November 2012]] | |
| + | '''Alternative name: Mesopotamian Crow (''C. c. capellanus'')''' | ||
| + | ;[[:Category:Corvus|Corvus]] cornix | ||
| + | ==Identification== | ||
| + | Length 48-54 cm, wingspan 84-100 cm, weight 0.4-0.6 kg. | ||
| + | *Glossy black head, throat, upper breast, wings, tail and thigh feathers | ||
| + | *Rest of the body mid grey (to pale grey in some subspecies; see below) | ||
| + | *Black bill and legs | ||
| + | *Iris dark brown to black | ||
| + | |||
| + | Juveniles have duller plumage with bluish or greyish eyes and, initially, a red mouth. | ||
| + | |||
| + | [[Image:IMG 9834.jpg|thumb|350px|right|''Corvus cornix cornix'' in flight<br />Photo by {{user|Macswede|Macswede}}<br />Solberga, Stockholm, [[Sweden]], April 2009]] | ||
| + | ====Similar species==== | ||
| + | *[[Carrion Crow]] ''Corvus corone'' is distinguished by being all-black, with no grey feathering; it is otherwise virtually identical, not differing in calls, behaviour, or habitat choice; it replaces Hooded Crow in southwestern Europe (southern [[Scotland]] east to [[Germany]] and south to [[Portugal]]) and (as subspecies ''Corvus corone orientalis'') in central and eastern [[Asia]]. | ||
| + | *[[Pied Crow]] ''Corvus albus'', widespread in Africa, has superficially similar plumage pattern, but with white instead of grey, except the lower back and and undertail, which are black. | ||
| + | |||
| + | ==Distribution== | ||
| + | Northern, central and eastern [[Europe]], western [[Asia]], and northeasternmost [[Africa]], in [[Ireland]], northwestern [[Scotland]], [[Scandinavia]], and south through [[Poland]], east and south of the [[Alps]] to [[Italy]]; east from there to the [[Yenisei]] river in central [[Siberia]], and southeast to northern [[Egypt]] and [[Iran]]. Largely resident, but migrates out of northern Scandinavia and northern Russia in winter; small numbers reach as far south and west as eastern [[England]] and northeastern [[France]] in winter, and also into the central Asian steppes where it does not breed. | ||
| + | [[Image:Hooded_Crow.jpg|thumb|350px|right|''Corvus cornix pallescens''<br/>Photo by {{user|alkumaheerd|alkumaheerd}}<br/>Golestan, northern [[Iran]], January 2005]] | ||
| + | ==Taxonomy== | ||
| + | [[Image:Mesopotamian Crow ir 1.jpg|thumb|350px|right|Mesopotamian Crow ''Corvus cornix capellanus''<br />Photo by {{user|Jos+Stratford|Jos Stratford}}<br />[[Iran]], December 2011]] | ||
| + | This species was formerly considered conspecific with [[Carrion Crow]]. The two hybridise extensively in a narrow band where their ranges meet, but the resulting hybrids have reduced viability, preventing more widespread mixing of the two species (it was due to this reduced viability that the two were concluded to be separate species, rather than just subspecies).<br /> | ||
| + | Four subspecies accepted: | ||
| + | *''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 northern [[Iraq]], [[Israel]], and [[Egypt]] | ||
| + | *''C. c. capellanus'' ('''Mesopotamian Crow''') - marshlands of southern [[Iraq]] and the extreme south-west of [[Iran]] | ||
| + | |||
| + | The subspecies are largely clinal in variation, becoming increasingly pale towards the southeast. ''C. c. capellanus'' is the most distinctive of these subspecies, the typical greys of nominate Hooded Crow being replaced by a near white, giving the bird a superficial resemblance to the [[Pied Crow]] of Africa, but ''C. c. pallescens'', widespread in northern and central [[Iran]], is an intermediate pale grey. Although most authorities consider Mesopotamian Crow a subspecies of Hooded Crow, a few recognise it as a species in its own right. | ||
| + | |||
| + | ==Habitat== | ||
| + | Found almost anywhere from coast to moorland, even city centres. | ||
| + | ==Behaviour== | ||
| + | ====Diet==== | ||
| + | Includes a wide range of worms, large insects, molluscs and crabs, bird eggs and nestlings, rodents, carrion, and human-provided food. | ||
| + | ====Breeding==== | ||
| + | They build a bulky stick nest, usually placed in a tall tree, but cliff ledges, old buildings and pylons may be used. The 4-6 brown-speckled blue eggs are incubated for 17-19 days by the female alone, who is fed by the male. The young fledge after 32-36 days. | ||
| + | |||
| + | ==External Links== | ||
| + | {{GSearch|Corvus+cornix}} | ||
| + | <br /> | ||
| + | {{Video|Hooded_Crow}} | ||
| + | |||
| + | [[Category:Birds]][[Category:Corvus]][[Category:Videos]] | ||
Revision as of 10:28, 11 July 2016
Alternative name: Mesopotamian Crow (C. c. capellanus)
- Corvus cornix
Identification
Length 48-54 cm, wingspan 84-100 cm, weight 0.4-0.6 kg.
- Glossy black head, throat, upper breast, wings, tail and thigh feathers
- Rest of the body mid grey (to pale grey in some subspecies; see below)
- Black bill and legs
- Iris dark brown to black
Juveniles have duller plumage with bluish or greyish eyes and, initially, a red mouth.
Similar species
- Carrion Crow Corvus corone is distinguished by being all-black, with no grey feathering; it is otherwise virtually identical, not differing in calls, behaviour, or habitat choice; it replaces Hooded Crow in southwestern Europe (southern Scotland east to Germany and south to Portugal) and (as subspecies Corvus corone orientalis) in central and eastern Asia.
- Pied Crow Corvus albus, widespread in Africa, has superficially similar plumage pattern, but with white instead of grey, except the lower back and and undertail, which are black.
Distribution
Northern, central and eastern Europe, western Asia, and northeasternmost Africa, in Ireland, northwestern Scotland, Scandinavia, and south through Poland, east and south of the Alps to Italy; east from there to the Yenisei river in central Siberia, and southeast to northern Egypt and Iran. Largely resident, but migrates out of northern Scandinavia and northern Russia in winter; small numbers reach as far south and west as eastern England and northeastern France in winter, and also into the central Asian steppes where it does not breed.
Taxonomy
This species was formerly considered conspecific with Carrion Crow. The two hybridise extensively in a narrow band where their ranges meet, but the resulting hybrids have reduced viability, preventing more widespread mixing of the two species (it was due to this reduced viability that the two were concluded to be separate species, rather than just subspecies).
Four subspecies accepted:
- 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 northern Iraq, Israel, and Egypt
- C. c. capellanus (Mesopotamian Crow) - marshlands of southern Iraq and the extreme south-west of Iran
The subspecies are largely clinal in variation, becoming increasingly pale towards the southeast. C. c. capellanus is the most distinctive of these subspecies, the typical greys of nominate Hooded Crow being replaced by a near white, giving the bird a superficial resemblance to the Pied Crow of Africa, but C. c. pallescens, widespread in northern and central Iran, is an intermediate pale grey. Although most authorities consider Mesopotamian Crow a subspecies of Hooded Crow, a few recognise it as a species in its own right.
Habitat
Found almost anywhere from coast to moorland, even city centres.
Behaviour
Diet
Includes a wide range of worms, large insects, molluscs and crabs, bird eggs and nestlings, rodents, carrion, and human-provided food.
Breeding
They build a bulky stick nest, usually placed in a tall tree, but cliff ledges, old buildings and pylons may be used. The 4-6 brown-speckled blue eggs are incubated for 17-19 days by the female alone, who is fed by the male. The young fledge after 32-36 days.
External Links
