Hooded crow's weird call (1 Viewer)

Hi everyone,

I was near a bird feeder the other day when a hooded crow landed on a nearby tree and started to make rather weird sounds. I've recorded them, here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=frS-P-Qv1I8. Can anyone please give some comments - is it some kind of a mating call, or a sign of aggression, or just a random noise? I've never heard such calls before (not to say that I heard a lot). A few days later I saw another crow making the exact same call about a mile away from the previous location.

I don't know what its significance is, but I've heard exactly the same call from Carrion Crows on several occasions.

PS welcome to Birdforum!

I haven't never heard that. Wow!

I remember that once couple years a go - It might been Late Feb -or March - I heard honking like sound. I thought it is some Goose, but it was too early for Gooses. It turned out that it was a crow that makes that honking noise. Crows have surprisingly wide vocabulary and they are very intresting birds.

I know the call from Carrion Crow as well, but what it is used for I can't tell.

I recognise the sound, and similar from jackdaws and rooks. I'm no expert, but I always associate it with pairs, communicating with each other. What about, I've no idea!

Thank you all for the responses!

I've spent some time searching on the web. While there are almost no info on the hooded crows, there is a lot on their cousins, american crows. The rattling/clicking/"comb" call was noted by many researchers and is often associated with "mating activities, though what their actual role is remains unclear" (1, 2). There are many other guesses, but in the given context it seems like the most plausible one.

I also found another species which makes this call: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OQwA14YWdqA

hooded crow's weird call

Hi everyone,

I know this thread is not current but I came across it when I was looking for answers and I wanted to share my experience. I live in Istanbul (Turkey). For a couple of years, I've made friends with a hooded crow. I think it's a male because recently he started bringing along with him a smaller sized adult bird, which I assume is his mate. Anyway, he recognizes me and taps me on the head with the tip of his wing when I am walking on the street, to ask for food. Or he also visits my office window for his food too. Whenever he comes to the window, he makes this weird call to let me know that he is there. So I think it is some form of a communication, a greeting maybe. In this context, it doesn't seem to be a mating call.

I love these crows. They are so intelligent

Best wishes,
Sima