Carrion Crow Identification

The Carrion Crow has black plumage but shinier than the Rook's.

It has black eyes, a powerful all-black beak with the base covered in feathers.

In flight, its tail is more squared than the Rook's and its wings are shorter.

The Carrion Crow is not a singing bird…

It repeats a hoarse and loud caw, often 2 to 4 times "kroa" "kra".

The Carrion Crow is very sociable, living in pairs or in groups but always smaller than the groups of Rooks.

They gather in roosts at night.

It is often seen foraging for food on the ground, moving by small hops.

It will come to feeding sites if it is not disturbed.

The Carrion Crow's breeding season extends from March to July.

It produces 1 brood per year of 4 to 6 light blue-green eggs speckled with dark.

It does not nest in colonies. The nest is often isolated in trees or high wooden poles.

Its nest is a collection of twigs, lined with grass, moss, and earth that it builds itself.

When it leaves the nest, a Kestrel or a Long-eared Owl might come to occupy it.

During the breeding season, the pair defends its territory against other crows or other species, such as raptors or magpies.

It bristles its feathers and caws while leaning its body forward.

The Carrion Crow is omnivorous, eating everything: insects, worms, snails, invertebrates, seeds, fruits...

and opportunistic: it feeds on carrion and waste. It is sometimes found rummaging through compost heaps and landfills.

It can be ingenious in consuming nuts. It is sometimes seen dropping them from heights onto a tarmac road to retrieve the kernels.

The Carrion Crow is very widespread. It lives in open landscapes, cultivated areas, and around towns and villages.

It is a resident species.

In the garden, it can be a helper for the gardener, feeding on certain pests (insects, slugs, caterpillars, and voles).