Carrion Crow

Corvus corone

Genus · Crows and Ravens Family · Crows, Jays, and Magpies
Observation tips Difficulty: EASY
Best time
🕒 Any
Activity
☀️ Diurnal
Best months
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
Observation habitat
FarmlandMarineUrban

Look for the entirely black bill (the similar Rook has a bare, greyish base). It is more solitary than the colony-nesting Rook.

Carrion Crow
Stats
Wingspan84–100 cm
Weight370–650 g
Length44–52 cm
Lifespan wild5–20 yrs
Size
XS
S
M
L
XL
Nesting
Nest typePlatform
Clutch size3–6 eggs
Incubation18–20 days
Breeding months
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
Regional Status (Europe)
LC
Least Concern (Europe)
IUCN Red List
MigrationResident
Social BehaviourMonogamous pairs

Diet: Omnivore

🦴Carrion
🥚Eggs
🦗Insects
🐭Mammals
🐚Mollusks
🌻Seeds
🪱Worms

Habitat

🚜 Farmland🌳 Forest deciduous🌊 Marine🏙️ Urban
✦ Fun Fact

Studies show that Carrion Crows can count. They even understand the concept of zero, putting their intelligence on par with some primates.

About

The Carrion Crow is the all-black counterpart to the Hooded Crow. It is dominant in Western and Central Europe. It is a powerful bird with a slightly arched black bill and a square tail. It is a highly intelligent resident species. It thrives in moorlands and major cities. It is a key member of the ecosystem and acts as an efficient cleaner of carrion.

Behaviour

Carrion Crows are usually seen in pairs. They gather in large numbers at high-quality food sources or winter roosts. They are highly territorial. They aggressively drive away larger birds like buzzards or eagles. Their call is a loud, harsh 'caw-caw-caw'. They are very wary and can recognize specific humans.
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