Carrion Crow

Carrion Crow Hooded Crow European distribution adult on estuary

Identification

This species occurs in two forms in Europe, the all-dark Carrion Crow of western Europe and the grey-bodied 'Hooded Crow' of Scandinavia and Eastern Europe. Although these birds look completely different, they often interbreed where the range overlaps, producing hybrids which look intermediate between the two. Hooded Crows are easily distinguished from all other crows but the Carrion Crow is easily confused with a Rook. The Carrion Crow, however, never has the pale face patch of a Rook and also looks tidier since it lacks the baggy trousers and fluffy forehead. Carrion Crows also have shorter and deeper bills in which the top edge of the upper mandible is more obviously curved. In flight, Carrion Crows have broader wings, more rectangular tails and a slower steadier flight.

Habitat

Breeds and winters on farmland, moorland and in town parks.

Migration

Hooded Crows which breed north of the Arctic Circle are migratory and it is these birds which turn up in eastern Britain, northern France and the Benelux countries in winter. Carrion Crows are mostly resident although there is some dispersal at the end of the breeding season; some from Holland and Denmark are thought to spread as far as Britain.

This information is taken from the BirdFile on the appropriate BirdGuides DVD-ROM. As well as video and sounds, our CD- and DVD-ROMs contain additional text on Voice, Sexing, Ageing, Food, Nests and Eggs and more.

For the purposes of our bird news services, Carrion Crow is classed as Common: common species, including species that are certain or probable escapees from captivity when occurring in the British Isles. (Note that rarity levels are currently applied nationally and may not reflect local variations in abundance.)

Inverneill, Argyll 18/08/2010	Sawley, Derbys 09/08/2010	Sheffield, S Yorks 15/06/2010	Farmoor, Oxon 03/08/2010	Abberton Resr, Essex 01/08/2010
Eyeworth Pond, Hants 14/07/2010	Cemlyn Bay, Anglesey 23/04/2010	Chew Valley Lake, Somerset 12/06/2010	Attenboro NR, Notts 19/06/2010	Attenboro NR, Notts 19/06/2010

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Carrion Crow breeds in the following countries (Bird News Extra subscribers will see population statistics and information on trends for each country):

Andorra
Belgium
Britain
France
Netherlands
Portugal
Spain

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