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Hooded Crow
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Hooded Crow
Scientific classification
Kingdom:
Animalia
Phylum:
Chordata
Class:
Aves
Order:
Passeriformes
Family:
Corvidae
Genus:
Corvus
Species:
C.
cornix
Binomial name
Corvus cornix
Linnaeus,
1758
The Hooded Crow (Corvus
cornix) (sometimes called Hoodiecrow) is a Eurasian bird species in
the crow genus. It is so similar in structure and habits to the Carrion Crow (Corvus
corone) that for many years they were considered by most authorities to be
merely geographical races of one species. However, since 2002, the Hooded Crow
has been elevated to full species status (Parkin 2003).
Description
Except for the head,
throat, wings, tail and thigh feathers, which are black and mostly glossy, the plumage
is ash-grey, the dark shafts giving it a streaky appearance. The bill and legs
are black. There is only one moult in autumn, as in other crow species. The
male is the larger bird, otherwise the sexes are alike. The flight is slow and
heavy and usually straight. The length varies from 48 to 52 cm. When first
hatched the young are much blacker than the parents.
The Hooded Crow, with its
contrasted greys and blacks, cannot be confused with either the Carrion Crow or
Rook, but the kraa call notes of the two are almost indistinguishable.
Distribution
and habitat
The Hooded Crow breeds in
northern and eastern Europe, and closely allied forms inhabit southern Europe
and western Asia. Where its range overlaps with Carrion Crow, as in northern Britain,
Germany and Siberia, their hybrids are fertile. However, the hybrids are less
well-adapted than pure-bred birds, and this is one of the reasons that this
species was split from the Carrion Crow. In the UK, the Hooded Crow breeds
regularly in Scotland, the Isle of Man, and in the Scottish Islands. It also
breeds widely in Ireland where it is locally known as the Grey Crow,
which is what its Welsh name, Brân Lwyd, translates as.
In autumn some migratory birds
arrive on the east coast of Britain.
Behaviour
Diet
Hooded crow
searching for food from punctured wastebag
The Hooded Crow is
omnivorous, diet similar to that of the Carrion Crow, and it is a constant
scavenger. It drops molluscs and crabs to break them after the manner of the
Carrion Crow.
On coastal cliffs the eggs
of gulls, cormorants and other birds are stolen when their owners are absent,
and it will enter the burrow of the Puffin to steal eggs.
Nesting
The bulky stick nest
normally placed in a tall tree, but cliff ledges, old buildings and pylons may
be used. Nests are occasionally placed on or near the ground. The nest
resembles that of the Carrion Crow, but on the coast seaweed is often
interwoven in the structure. The four to six brown-speckled blue or eggs are
incubated for 17-19 days by the female alone, who is fed by the male. The young
fledge after 32-36 days.
In Israel this species is parasitised
by the Great Spotted Cuckoo, whose normal host, the European Magpie is absent
from that country.
Cutural
References
Jethro Tull mentions the
Hooded Crow on the song "Jack Frost and the Hooded Crow" on their The
Christmas Album
In those parts of Russia
where the Hooded Crow can be found, they are referred to as "Militia
Birds" or "Militia Crows" because their color pattern so resembles
the uniforms worn by the police.
References
- Madge, Steve & Burn, Hilary (1994): Crows
and jays: a guide to the crows, jays and magpies of the world. A&C
Black, London. ISBN 0-7136-3999-7
- Parkin, David T. (2003): Birding and DNA:
species for the new millennium. Bird Study 50(3): 223–242. HTML
abstract
Wikipedia
http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Hooded_Crow&action=history
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Scientific classification
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Binomial name |
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The Hooded Crow (Corvus
cornix) (sometimes called Hoodiecrow) is a Eurasian bird species in
the crow genus. It is so similar in structure and habits to the Carrion Crow (Corvus
corone) that for many years they were considered by most authorities to be
merely geographical races of one species. However, since 2002, the Hooded Crow
has been elevated to full species status (Parkin 2003).
Description
Except for the head,
throat, wings, tail and thigh feathers, which are black and mostly glossy, the plumage
is ash-grey, the dark shafts giving it a streaky appearance. The bill and legs
are black. There is only one moult in autumn, as in other crow species. The
male is the larger bird, otherwise the sexes are alike. The flight is slow and
heavy and usually straight. The length varies from 48 to 52 cm. When first
hatched the young are much blacker than the parents.
The Hooded Crow, with its
contrasted greys and blacks, cannot be confused with either the Carrion Crow or
Rook, but the kraa call notes of the two are almost indistinguishable.
Distribution
and habitat
The Hooded Crow breeds in
northern and eastern Europe, and closely allied forms inhabit southern Europe
and western Asia. Where its range overlaps with Carrion Crow, as in northern Britain,
Germany and Siberia, their hybrids are fertile. However, the hybrids are less
well-adapted than pure-bred birds, and this is one of the reasons that this
species was split from the Carrion Crow. In the UK, the Hooded Crow breeds
regularly in Scotland, the Isle of Man, and in the Scottish Islands. It also
breeds widely in Ireland where it is locally known as the Grey Crow,
which is what its Welsh name, Brân Lwyd, translates as.
In autumn some migratory birds
arrive on the east coast of Britain.
Behaviour
Diet
Hooded crow
searching for food from punctured wastebag
The Hooded Crow is
omnivorous, diet similar to that of the Carrion Crow, and it is a constant
scavenger. It drops molluscs and crabs to break them after the manner of the
Carrion Crow.
On coastal cliffs the eggs
of gulls, cormorants and other birds are stolen when their owners are absent,
and it will enter the burrow of the Puffin to steal eggs.
Nesting
The bulky stick nest
normally placed in a tall tree, but cliff ledges, old buildings and pylons may
be used. Nests are occasionally placed on or near the ground. The nest
resembles that of the Carrion Crow, but on the coast seaweed is often
interwoven in the structure. The four to six brown-speckled blue or eggs are
incubated for 17-19 days by the female alone, who is fed by the male. The young
fledge after 32-36 days.
In Israel this species is parasitised
by the Great Spotted Cuckoo, whose normal host, the European Magpie is absent
from that country.
Cutural
References
Jethro Tull mentions the
Hooded Crow on the song "Jack Frost and the Hooded Crow" on their The
Christmas Album
In those parts of Russia
where the Hooded Crow can be found, they are referred to as "Militia
Birds" or "Militia Crows" because their color pattern so resembles
the uniforms worn by the police.
References
- Madge, Steve & Burn, Hilary (1994): Crows
and jays: a guide to the crows, jays and magpies of the world. A&C
Black, London. ISBN 0-7136-3999-7
- Parkin, David T. (2003): Birding and DNA:
species for the new millennium. Bird Study 50(3): 223–242. HTML
abstract
Wikipedia
http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Hooded_Crow&action=history