Why was the Crow rolling in Snow? (2 Viewers)

[Trevor Lee]

Hi having been to rendlesham forest birding to day. Me and my wife were sitting having a coffee in the car, and watching some Crows feeding in the snow. One of the Crows was rolling about in the snow. He was actually lying on his back and flapping his wings. He would get up and then act as if he was in a bird bath.

Does any one know why he would do this?

There was a another crow with white wings. We assume this was a partial Albino?

Regards

Trevor

 

[Stewart J.]

Members of the crow family have been documented and in some cases photographed apparently playing, I remember seeing photos of Ravens sliding down a small incline in the snow. Several months ago I watched a Hooded Crow repeatedly land on a telegraph wire and then swing upside down below the wire flap for a few seconds then drop and fly back onto the wire.

Couple of links for you:-

http://wwwsoc.nii.ac.jp/osj/english/activities/ornith_science/ornsci1_1pdfs/os010207.pdf
http://www.ravenfamily.org/nascakiyetl/obs/rav1.html

Then again your bird may have been using snow to help rid itself of parasites. Hope of some help.

Stewart

 

[Trevor Lee]

Members of the crow family have been documented and in some cases photographed apparently playing, I remember seeing photos of Ravens sliding down a small incline in the snow. Several months ago I watched a Hooded Crow repeatedly land on a telegraph wire and then swing upside down below the wire flap for a few seconds then drop and fly back onto the wire.

Couple of links for you:-

http://wwwsoc.nii.ac.jp/osj/english/activities/ornith_science/ornsci1_1pdfs/os010207.pdf
http://www.ravenfamily.org/nascakiyetl/obs/rav1.html

Then again your bird may have been using snow to help rid itself of parasites.

Hope of some help.

Stewart

Thanks Stewart, the bird was seemed to be enjoying himself, my wife made a comment on this, so i guess it was just having a good time. It was fun to watch anyway.

Thanks

Trev

 

[Pileated_MO]

I think he was probably cleaning up.

 

[David FG]

I think that cleaning probably is the reason: lots of animals (birds and others) seem to 'enjoy' rolling in snow - including my dog, but he is retarded and not typical.

 

[spartacus mills]

Members of the crow family have been documented and in some cases photographed apparently playing, I remember seeing photos of Ravens sliding down a small incline in the snow.
Stewart

I've seen jackdaws take it in turns to slide down a wet roof. If it makes them happy....

 

[alancairns]

Hi having been to rendlesham forest birding to day. Me and my wife were sitting having a coffee in the car, and watching some Crows feeding in the snow. One of the Crows was rolling about in the snow. He was actually lying on his back and flapping his wings. He would get up and then act as if he was in a bird bath.

Does any one know why he would do this?

There was a another crow with white wings. We assume this was a partial Albino?

Regards

Trevor

He was making a snow angel.

Alan

 

[outsidethebox]

Crows having fun in the snow | By Webm thread | Facebook

Crows having fun in the snow

fb.watch

 

[01101001]

'Why did the crow roll in the snow?' sounds like the kind of question I'd be more likely to see in the Ruffled Feathers' joke thread. Never mind.

 

[Scott98]

>Does any one know why he would do this?

back massage. I assume this is why my dogs do it too!