Carrion Crow (redirected from Corvus corone)

carrion crow

a common predatory and scavenging European crow, Corvus corone, similar to the rook but having a pure black bill

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Carrion Crow 

(Corvus cor one), a bird of the family Corvidae, order Passeriformes. The length of its body ranges from 44 to 56 cm. Carrion crows are divided into two groups according to coloring. These groups are sometimes considered as two independent species: carrion crows proper (black plumage with a metallic gloss) and hooded crows (grey plumage with black). Hybrid crows of an intermediate color are commonly found in bordering areas of distribution. Carrion crows inhabit Europe, Asia (excluding the south and southeast), and northeast Africa (the lower reaches of the Nile). In the USSR the hooded crow is widely distributed in the east to the Enisei River, in the south to Middle Asia, and in Turkmenia. The carrion crow proper in-habits the remaining regions. In the northern part of its area of distribution the carrion crow is a migratory bird; in the southern part it is sedentary. It nests in forests, parks, floodland plantings, and the like; in the winter it commonly nests in cities and towns. The nests are placed in trees, and when there are no trees, in bushes and even in reed-blockings in rivers. Laying (4-5 eggs) occurs between the end of March and May. An omnivorous bird, the carrion crow causes serious harm in some places by destroying the nests of game birds, especially duck nests. Species similar to the Corvus corone inhabit North America (C. brachyrhynchos) and south and southeast Asia (C. macrorhynchos).

G. P. DEMENT’EV