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Difference between revisions of "Carrion Crow" - BirdForum Opus

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'''Includes Hooded Crow'''
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'''Alternative names: Common Crow; Eurasian Crow; Oriental Crow (''C. c. orientalis'')'''
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[[Image:Corvus corone by G6 UXU.jpg|thumb|550px|right|Nominate race ''C. c. corone'', adult<br />Photo &copy; by {{user|G6+UXU|G6 UXU}}<br />Entwistle Reservoir, [[Lancashire]], [[UK]], 3 February 2014]]
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;[[:Category:Corvus|Corvus]] corone
 
;[[:Category:Corvus|Corvus]] corone
[[Image:Carrion_Crow.jpg|thumb|550px|right|Photo by RichUK]]
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[[Image:Carrion_Crow_Alok.JPG|thumb|350px|right|Subspecies ''C. c. orientalis'', adult<br />Photo &copy; by {{user|aloktewari|Alok Tewari}}<br />Gulmarg, Altitude 2650 meters (8694 feet), Jammu & Kashmir, [[India]], 28 June 2011]]
 
==Identification==
 
==Identification==
Very successful and highly intelligent corvid about half a metre in length.  
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48-54cm. A compact crow:
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* All black plumage with a green or purple sheen
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* Dark brown iris
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* Black, stout bill
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* Legs dark grey to black
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Sexes similar, juveniles with duller plumage and pink gape when bill open. [[Dictionary G-L#H|Hybrids]] between Carrion Crow and [[Hooded Crow]] occur regularly in a narrow band where their ranges meet.
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[[Image:Carrion_Crow.jpg|thumb|350px|right|Juvenile<br />Photo &copy; by {{user|RichUK|RichUK}}<br />[[UK]], 11 August 2004]]
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====Similar species====
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May be confused with young [[Rook]]. The shape of head and the flight are quite different. [[Large-billed Crow]] has steeper forehead, more dome-shaped crown, and more rounded tail.
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==Distribution==
 
==Distribution==
Most western Europe to the most eastern points of northern Asia.
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Most of western [[Europe]] and a disjunct population (perhaps a separate species) in central and eastern parts of northern [[Asia]].<br />
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Common or abundant in most of its range despite persecution by gamekeepers and farmers.
 
==Taxonomy==
 
==Taxonomy==
====Subspecies<sup>[[#References|1]]</sup>====
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Was formerly considered conspecific with [[Hooded Crow]], which occupies central Eurasia inbetween the two subspecies of Carrion Crow. Precise relationship between the three taxa not yet settled, and possible that either Hooded may be re-lumped, or ''C. c. orientalis'' split as a third full species.
*''C. c. corone'' - W Europe
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[[Image:PAL8074CARRIONCROW.jpg|thumb|350px|right|Photo &copy; by {{user|I4ani|David Palmer}}<br />Dartmoor, [[Devon]], [[UK]], 14 February 2010]]
*''C. c. orientalis'' - Iran to n China, Korea and Japan
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====Subspecies====
Hooded Crow ''corvix'' complex:
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Two subspecies accepted<sup>[[#References|1]]</sup>:
*''C. c. cornix'' - N Europe to Yenisey Valley, Ukraine, Corsica and s Italy
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*''C. c. corone'' - Western [[Europe]] (except Ireland and north-western Scotland)
*''C. c. sharpii'' - Mainland Italy to Yugoslavia, Asia Minor, n Iran and Kazakstan
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*''C. c. orientalis'' - North-eastern [[Iran]] to northern [[China]], [[Korea]] and [[Japan]]
*''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. (c.?) cornix'', including ''sharpii'', ''pallescens'', and ''capellanus'') as a full species, citing the recommendation of Parkin et al. (2003)<sup>[[#References|2]]</sup>. 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 a BirdForum thread discussing this taxonomic discrepancy [http://www.birdforum.net/showthread.php?t=102015 here].
 
  
 
==Habitat==
 
==Habitat==
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Found almost anywhere from coast to moorland, even city centres and intensively farmed land.<sup>[[#References|3]]</sup>
 
==Behaviour==
 
==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.
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Ingenious adaption to urban environments and intelligent. Can be observed sitting on top of traffic lights and dropping hard-shelled nuts onto the streets below so to make use of the crushing effects of traffic; and will wait to retrieve the contents at a 'red' signal.
==Bird Song==
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====Diet====
<flashmp3>Corvus corone (song).mp3</flashmp3><br />
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[[Image:Crow with Fish Alive1.jpg|thumb|350px|right|A Carrion Crow catching a fish<br />Photo &copy; by {{user|BrianWH|BrianWH}}<br />Carsington Water, [[Derbyshire]], 10 March 2015]]
''[[Media:Corvus corone (song).mp3|Listen in an external program]]''
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The diet includes carrion, insects, worms, seeds, fruit and scraps.
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Has been observed taking a live fish out of the water. Extra pictures and discussion<sup>[[#External Links|[2]]]</sup>.
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====Breeding====
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Breeding season generally in northern spring. A pair often stays together over several years and throughout the year. Usually a solitary nester. The large nest is built by both sexes and is made out of sticks. It's usually placed high in a tall tree. Nests on buildings, electricity pylons or cliffs are also known. Lays four eggs. The chicks leave the nest after 32 days.
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In some parts of the range [[Great Spotted Cuckoo]] may [[Dictionary_P-S#P|parasitise]] the nest.
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====Vocalisation====
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{{ Audio|Corvus corone (song).mp3 }}
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==References==
 
==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
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#{{Ref-Clements6thAug18}}#Parkin, D. T., Collison, M., Helbig, A., Knox, A. G., & Sangster, G. (2003). The taxonomic status of Carrion and Hooded Crows. ''British Birds'' 96 (6): 274–290.
# 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.
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#[https://www.rspb.org.uk/birds-and-wildlife/wildlife-guides/bird-a-z/carrion-crow/ RSPB]
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#{{Ref-HBWVol14}}
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{{ref}}
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==External Links==
 
==External Links==
{{GSearch|Corvus+corone}}  
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{{GSearch|"Corvus corone" {{!}} "Carrion Crow" {{!}} "Common Crow" {{!}} "Eurasian Crow" {{!}} "Oriental Crow"}}
[[Category:Birds]][[Category:Corvus]]
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{{GS-checked}}
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<br />
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<br />
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Threads about taxonomy of Hooded and Carrion Crow:<br />
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#[http://www.birdforum.net/showthread.php?t=102015] and [http://birdforum.net/showthread.php?t=119618]
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#[http://www.birdforum.net/showthread.php?p=3184715 Thread discussing a Crow catching a fish]
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[[Category:Birds]][[Category:Corvus]] [[Category:Bird Songs]]

Latest revision as of 20:28, 18 December 2022

Alternative names: Common Crow; Eurasian Crow; Oriental Crow (C. c. orientalis)

Nominate race C. c. corone, adult
Photo © by G6 UXU
Entwistle Reservoir, Lancashire, UK, 3 February 2014
Corvus corone
Subspecies C. c. orientalis, adult
Photo © by Alok Tewari
Gulmarg, Altitude 2650 meters (8694 feet), Jammu & Kashmir, India, 28 June 2011

Identification

48-54cm. A compact crow:

  • All black plumage with a green or purple sheen
  • Dark brown iris
  • Black, stout bill
  • Legs dark grey to black

Sexes similar, juveniles with duller plumage and pink gape when bill open. Hybrids between Carrion Crow and Hooded Crow occur regularly in a narrow band where their ranges meet.

Juvenile
Photo © by RichUK
UK, 11 August 2004

Similar species

May be confused with young Rook. The shape of head and the flight are quite different. Large-billed Crow has steeper forehead, more dome-shaped crown, and more rounded tail.

Distribution

Most of western Europe and a disjunct population (perhaps a separate species) in central and eastern parts of northern Asia.
Common or abundant in most of its range despite persecution by gamekeepers and farmers.

Taxonomy

Was formerly considered conspecific with Hooded Crow, which occupies central Eurasia inbetween the two subspecies of Carrion Crow. Precise relationship between the three taxa not yet settled, and possible that either Hooded may be re-lumped, or C. c. orientalis split as a third full species.

Photo © by David Palmer
Dartmoor, Devon, UK, 14 February 2010

Subspecies

Two subspecies accepted1:

  • C. c. corone - Western Europe (except Ireland and north-western Scotland)
  • C. c. orientalis - North-eastern Iran to northern China, Korea and Japan

Habitat

Found almost anywhere from coast to moorland, even city centres and intensively farmed land.3

Behaviour

Ingenious adaption to urban environments and intelligent. Can be observed sitting on top of traffic lights and dropping hard-shelled nuts onto the streets below so to make use of the crushing effects of traffic; and will wait to retrieve the contents at a 'red' signal.

Diet

A Carrion Crow catching a fish
Photo © by BrianWH
Carsington Water, Derbyshire, 10 March 2015

The diet includes carrion, insects, worms, seeds, fruit and scraps.

Has been observed taking a live fish out of the water. Extra pictures and discussion[2].

Breeding

Breeding season generally in northern spring. A pair often stays together over several years and throughout the year. Usually a solitary nester. The large nest is built by both sexes and is made out of sticks. It's usually placed high in a tall tree. Nests on buildings, electricity pylons or cliffs are also known. Lays four eggs. The chicks leave the nest after 32 days.

In some parts of the range Great Spotted Cuckoo may parasitise the nest.

Vocalisation

References

  1. Clements, J. F., T. S. Schulenberg, M. J. Iliff, D. Roberson, T. A. Fredericks, B. L. Sullivan, and C. L. Wood. 2018. The eBird/Clements checklist of birds of the world: v2018. Downloaded from http://www.birds.cornell.edu/clementschecklist/download/
  2. Parkin, D. T., Collison, M., Helbig, A., Knox, A. G., & Sangster, G. (2003). The taxonomic status of Carrion and Hooded Crows. British Birds 96 (6): 274–290.
  3. RSPB
  4. Del Hoyo, J, A Elliott, and D Christie, eds. 2009. Handbook of the Birds of the World. Volume 14: Bush-shrikes to Old World Sparrows. Barcelona: Lynx Edicions. ISBN 978-8496553507

Recommended Citation

External Links

GSearch checked for 2020 platform.

Threads about taxonomy of Hooded and Carrion Crow:

  1. [1] and [2]
  2. Thread discussing a Crow catching a fish
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