Carrion Crow

Carrion Crow	Both Sexes Jet black plumage.
Corvus corone
Length: 45-47 cm  (18-19")
Wing Span: 93-104 cm  (37-42")
Weight: 370-650 g  (¾-1½)
Breeding Pairs: 800 000
Present: All Year
Status: Green

Description

The Carrion Crow is a black crow, about the same size as a Rook, but unlike the Rook, the Carrion Crow has neatly feathered thighs, and feathers around the base of the beak. While at first appearance its plumage is black, on closer inspection it has a green and purple iridescence.

In flight, the Carrion Crow has a shorter head than the Rook, as well as having slower wing beats. The tail is squarer in the Carrion Crow, and the "fingers" at the wing tips are less splayed.

The Hooded Crow is the same species as the Carrion Crow but is a different race, which can be mostly found in Ireland, Scotland and the Isle of Man, though some wintering continental birds may be seen in eastern England. The Hooded Crow has a grey back and underparts and a black hood, wings and tail.

Juvenile Carrion Crows have duller, browner plumage and pale blue eyes; the adults have brown eyes.

Juvenile

Hooded Crow

Carrion Crow

Voice

	Call
	Quicktime mp3

The Carrion Crow has many calls but the most common is "kraa-kraa-kraa".

Feeding

Carrion Crows have a diverse diet: worms, insects, fruit, seeds, kitchen scraps, eggs, and young birds.

Nesting

A Carrion Crow's nest is built in the fork of a tree, cliff edge or even electricity pylon and is a large construction of twigs lined with hair and bark. It is built by both birds.

The duties of incubating the eggs are performed by the female. The eggs are about 43 mm by 30 mm, smooth and glossy, pale bluish-green with dark brown and grey markings. Both adults feed the young birds.

The two races inter-breed, resulting in Carrion x Hooded hybrids.

Movements

British and Irish Carrion Crows (and Hooded Crows) are quite sedentary, never venturing far from their nests. In the winter, our population may be joined by continental birds of both races.

Conservation

Both crows are thriving and are considered by some to be pests, particularly by gamekeepers, as they take the eggs and chicks of game birds.

My Garden

Carrion Crows are often in the neighbourhood, though they usually confine themselves to the TV aerials and chimney pots.

In the last week of May 1999 a Carrion Crow caught a young Magpie, and while perched on a neighbour's TV aerial proceeded to tear at the feathers and flesh of its writhing prey. Not a pleasant sight.

During 2001, the Carrion Crows - though it could be just one individual - took to dive-bombing Wood Pigeons and Magpies feeding in our garden. In November of the same year, an immature bird spent several minutes sitting on and drinking from the water bath.