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[[Image:IMG 9834.jpg|thumb|350px|right|Hooded Crow in flight<br />Photo by {{user|Macswede|Macswede}}<br />Solberga, Stockholm, [[Sweden]], April 2009]] | [[Image:IMG 9834.jpg|thumb|350px|right|Hooded Crow in flight<br />Photo by {{user|Macswede|Macswede}}<br />Solberga, Stockholm, [[Sweden]], April 2009]] | ||
==Taxonomy== | ==Taxonomy== | ||
| + | This species was formerly considered conspecific with [[Carrion Crow]]. | ||
| + | |||
Four subspecies accepted: | Four subspecies accepted: | ||
*''C. c. cornix'' - Northern [[Europe]] to Yenisey Valley, [[Ukraine]], [[Corsica]] and southern [[Italy]] | *''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. 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. pallescens'' - Coastal southern [[Turkey]] to [[Levant]], northern [[Iraq]] and [[Egypt]] | ||
| − | *''C. c. capellanus'' - | + | *''C. c. capellanus'' - Marshlands of southern [[Iraq]] and the extreme south-west of [[Iran]] |
| − | This species | + | |
| + | |||
| + | '''Mesopotamian Crow''' (C.c. capellanus) | ||
| + | |||
| + | This is the most distinctive of these subspecies, the typical greys of a Hooded Crow replaced by a near white, giving the bird a morphological resemblance to Pied Crow of Africa. Geographically isolated from Hooded Crow, widespread in northern and central Iran, most authorities still consider it a subspecies of Hooded Crow, but it is recognised in limited quarters as a species in its own right. | ||
| + | |||
==Habitat== | ==Habitat== | ||
Found almost anywhere from coast to moorland, even city centres. | Found almost anywhere from coast to moorland, even city centres. | ||
Revision as of 20:20, 17 January 2012
The bird linked is of race pallescens and was photographed in N Iran (Golestan NP)
Alternative name: Mesopotamian Crow (capellanus)
- Corvus cornix
Identification
48-452cm.
- Glossy black head, throat, wings, tail and thigh feathers
- Gray "vest"
- Black bill and legs
- Iris dark brown
Juveniles have duller plumage with bluish or greyish eyes and, initially, a red mouth.
Distribution
Taxonomy
This species was formerly considered conspecific with Carrion Crow.
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 Levant, northern Iraq and Egypt
- C. c. capellanus - Marshlands of southern Iraq and the extreme south-west of Iran
Mesopotamian Crow (C.c. capellanus)
This is the most distinctive of these subspecies, the typical greys of a Hooded Crow replaced by a near white, giving the bird a morphological resemblance to Pied Crow of Africa. Geographically isolated from Hooded Crow, widespread in northern and central Iran, most authorities still consider it a subspecies of Hooded Crow, but it is recognised in limited quarters as a species in its own right.
Habitat
Found almost anywhere from coast to moorland, even city centres.
Behaviour
Diet
Includes molluscs and crabs, the eggs of gulls, cormorants and other birds
Breeding
They build a bulky stick nest, placed in a tall tree, but cliff ledges, old buildings and pylons may be used. 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
