Includes Hooded Crow
- Corvus corone
Identification
48-52cm. All black with a green or purple sheen, black bill, legs and feet, stout bill.
Distribution
Most western Europe to the most eastern points of northern Asia.
Taxonomy
Subspecies1
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 Kazakstan
- C. c. pallescens - Coastal s Turkey to Levant, n Iraq and Egypt
- C. c. capellanus - S Iraq and adjacent sw 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)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.
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.
The diet includes carrion, insects, worms, seeds, fruit and scraps.
Vocalisation
<flashmp3>Corvus corone (song).mp3</flashmp3>
Listen in an external program
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
- 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.
- RSPB
