Difference between revisions of "Field Guide/Birds/Corvus brachyrhynchos"

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<table border="1" cellspacing="0" align="right" cellpadding="2" style = "margin-left: 0.5em;">
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{{Bird id
<tr><th align="center" bgcolor=pink>'''American Crow'''</th></tr>
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| latin_name = Corvus brachyrhynchos
<tr><td>[[Image:Corvus brachyrhynchos 1.jpg|200px]]<br>
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| name = American Crow
</td></tr>
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| level = 4
<tr><th align="center" bgcolor=pink>{{taxonomy}}</th></tr>
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| image_1 = Corvus_brachyrhynchos_30196.JPG
<tr><td>
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| caption_1 = American Crow
<table align="center">
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| range_map = Corvus_brachyrhynchos_map.jpg
<tr><td>{{Regnum}}:</td><td>[[Animal]]ia</td></tr>
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| call =
<tr><td>{{Phylum}}:</td><td>[[Chordate|Chordata]]</td></tr>
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| description = The '''American Crow'''is a common bird found throughout North America. Entirely black, it is an easily recognized bird.
<tr><td>{{Classis}}:</td><td>[[bird|Aves]]</td></tr>
 
<tr><td>{{Ordo}}:</td><td>[[Passeriformes]]</td></tr>
 
<tr><td>{{Familia}}:</td><td>[[Corvidae]]</td></tr>
 
<tr><td>{{Genus}}:</td><td>'''''[[Corvus (biology)|Corvus]]'''''</td></tr>
 
<tr><td>{{Species}}:</td><td>'''''brachyrhynchos'''''</td></tr>
 
</table>
 
<tr><th align="center" bgcolor="pink">'''[[Binomial nomenclature|Binomial name]]'''</th></tr>
 
<tr><td align="center">''Corvus brachyrhynchos''<br><small>[[Christian Ludwig Brehm|Brehm]], [[1822]]</small></td></tr>
 
</td></tr>
 
</table>
 
The '''American Crow''' (''Corvus brachyrhynchos'') is slightly smaller than the [[Europe]]an [[Carrion Crow]] in overall size (39-49 cm in length) and also has a proportionately smaller bill. Feathers are black, with a purple or blue iridescence in some lights. Legs, feet and bill are also black. Several regional forms are recognized and differ in bill proportion and overall size from each other across North America, generally smallest in the southeast and the far west.
 
 
[[Image:Corvus_brachyrhynchos_map.jpg|thumb|left|Distribution map]]
 
  
'''Range:''' Occurring from [[British Columbia]] to [[Newfoundland]] in the north, and the [[Gulf of Mexico]] to [[Florida]] in the southern parts of its range and includes virtually all types of country from wilderness, farmland, parks, open woodland to towns and major cities. This bird is generally a permanent resident, but many birds in the northern parts of their range [[bird migration|migrate]] short distances south. Outside of the nesting season, these birds often gather in large communal roosts at night.
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The American Crow is a distinctive bird with iridescent black feathers. Its legs, feet and bill are also black. Several regional forms are recognized and differ in bill proportion and overall size from each other across North America, generally being smallest in the southeast and the far west. Averaging 18 inches (46 cm) in length, it is smaller than the Common Raven. American Crows have a lifespan of 7 to 8 years. Captive birds are known to have lived up to 30 years.
  
'''Food:''' A typical crow taking invertebrates of all types, [[carrion]], scraps of human food, seeds, eggs and nestlings, stranded fish on the shore and various grains. It also, like most crows, scavenges at rubbish dumps. Where available, [[maize|corn]] is a favorite food.  They are also fond of discarded scraps of [[fast food]], especially [[french fries]] which can be carried away easily in their strong beaks.  Widely regarded as a pest, crows tend to be wary around humans, unlike [[seagull]]s, [[mallard]]s, or [[feral pigeon]]s.
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The most usual call is a loud, short, and rapid ''"caah-caah-caah"''.  Usually, the birds thrust their heads up and down as they utter this call. American Crows can also produce a wide variety of sounds and sometimes mimic noises made by other animals, including other birds.
  
'''Nest:''' These birds build bulky stick nests, nearly always in trees but sometimes also in large bushes and, very rarely, on the ground. 3 to 6 eggs are laid and [[incubate (bird)|incubate]]d for 18 days. The young are fledged usually by about 35 days. Normally single nesting, the species has been recorded as nesting in small colonies in the western parts of its range.
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Crows live in virtually all types of country from wilderness, farmland, parks, open woodland to towns and major cities. The crow is generally a permanent resident, but many birds in the northern parts of the range migrate short distances southward. Outside of the nesting season, these birds often gather in large communal roosts at night. American Crows are protected by the [[w:Migratory Bird Treaty Act of 1918|Migratory Bird Treaty Act of 1918]].
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{{clear}}
  
'''Voice:''' The most usual call is a loud, short, and rapid ''"caah-caah-caah"''.  Usually, the birds thrust their heads up and down as they utter this call. Crows can also produce a wide variety of sounds and sometimes mimic noises made by other birds and animals.
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The American Crow is omnivorous. It will feed on invertebrates of all types, carrion, scraps of human food, seeds, eggs and nestlings, stranded fish on the shore and various grains. American Crows are active hunters and will prey on mice, frogs, and other small animals. In winter and autumn, the diet of American Crows is more dependent on nuts and acorns. Occasionally, they will visit bird feeders.
  
==Sound link== [http://www.shades-of-night.com/aviary/sounds/crow2.wav American Crow call]
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Like most crows, they will scavenge at rubbish dumps, scattering garbage in the process. Where available, corn, wheat and other agricultural crops are a favorite food. These habits have historically caused the American Crow to be considered a nuisance. However, it is suspected that the harm to crops is offset by the service the American Crow provides by eating insect pests.
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Status: Despite attempts by humans in some areas to drive these birds away, they remain widespread and very common.
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American Crows are monogamous cooperative breeding birds. Mated pairs form large families of up to 15 individuals from several breeding seasons that remain together for many years. Offspring from a previous nesting season will usually remain with the family to assist in rearing new nestlings. American Crows do not reach breeding age for at least two years. Most do not leave the nest to breed for four to five years.
  
The [[Northwestern Crow]] ''Corvus caurinus'' is very closely related to the American Crow and indeed structurally, they almost blend into each other in northern [[Oregon]] though the voice remains one of the principal differences between these two close species.
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American Crows build bulky stick nests, nearly always in trees but sometimes also in large bushes and, very rarely, on the ground. They will nest in a wide variety of trees, including large conifers, although oaks are most often used. Three to six eggs are laid and incubated for 18 days. The young are fledged usually by about 35 days.
  
[[Image:Corvus brachyrhynchos 2.jpg|thumb|left|American Crows are very common throughout North America.]]
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Despite attempts by humans in some areas to drive away or eliminate these birds, they remain widespread and very common. The number of individual American Crows is estimated by Birdlife International to be around 31,000,000. The large population, as well as its vast range, are the reasons why the American Crow is considered to be of least concern, meaning that the species is not at immediate risk.
  
==Crows in slang==
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}}
 
 
The abundance of the American Crow in both rural and urban environments have made them very familiar to all Americans.  Their name has been applied in numerous ways to the vernacular.
 
 
 
* Loud, vain bragging is sometimes referred to as "crowing".
 
 
 
* Similarly, to "eat crow" is to suffer embarrasment after having previously boasted.
 
 
 
* A [[scarecrow]] is a [[dummy]] shaped and dressed like a [[human]] and placed inside a crop to frighten away crows and other birds. 
 
 
 
* A [[crowbar]] is a hook shaped metal rod used to pry open objects and remove nails.
 
 
 
* A crow's nest is a small platform near the top of a ship's mast used for observation and navigating.
 
 
 
* "As the crow flies" refers to the shortest distance between two points by air.
 
 
 
* "Crows feet" is a term for Y shaped wrinkles on the skin, usually the face.
 
 
 
* "[[Jim Crow]]", originally the name of [[19th century]] [[minstrel]] character, has come to define all [[blackface]] performances of that era, as well as laws - particularly in the [[American South]] - that [[segregation|segregated]] blacks.
 
 
 
* Likewise, the name "crow" was often applied as a mildly insulting, early 20th century term for African-Americans.  [[White race|White]] [[vaudeville]] [[comedian]]s [[Moran and Mack]] recorded a popular series of skits in the [[1920s]] called ''"Two Black Crows"'', speaking in exaggerated Black American accents.
 
 
 
''Also see [[Crow|Crow (disambiguation)]]''
 
 
 
==External image links==
 
 
 
* [http://www.mesange.com/corneille_amerique.htm American Crow series]
 
* [http://209.133.64.45/birds/birds_l/BD0023_1l.jpg American Crow]
 
* [http://www.juneauempire.com/images/100602/crow.jpg Good closeup image]
 
* [http://www.skullsite.com/images/dbimages/large/corvusbrachyrhynchos_s.jpg Skull of American Crow]
 
[[Category:Corvus]]
 

Latest revision as of 00:47, 15 July 2022

Corvus brachyrhynchos (American Crow)
American Crow
Range
Description
The American Crowis a common bird found throughout North America. Entirely black, it is an easily recognized bird.

The American Crow is a distinctive bird with iridescent black feathers. Its legs, feet and bill are also black. Several regional forms are recognized and differ in bill proportion and overall size from each other across North America, generally being smallest in the southeast and the far west. Averaging 18 inches (46 cm) in length, it is smaller than the Common Raven. American Crows have a lifespan of 7 to 8 years. Captive birds are known to have lived up to 30 years.

The most usual call is a loud, short, and rapid "caah-caah-caah". Usually, the birds thrust their heads up and down as they utter this call. American Crows can also produce a wide variety of sounds and sometimes mimic noises made by other animals, including other birds.

Crows live in virtually all types of country from wilderness, farmland, parks, open woodland to towns and major cities. The crow is generally a permanent resident, but many birds in the northern parts of the range migrate short distances southward. Outside of the nesting season, these birds often gather in large communal roosts at night. American Crows are protected by the Migratory Bird Treaty Act of 1918.

The American Crow is omnivorous. It will feed on invertebrates of all types, carrion, scraps of human food, seeds, eggs and nestlings, stranded fish on the shore and various grains. American Crows are active hunters and will prey on mice, frogs, and other small animals. In winter and autumn, the diet of American Crows is more dependent on nuts and acorns. Occasionally, they will visit bird feeders.

Like most crows, they will scavenge at rubbish dumps, scattering garbage in the process. Where available, corn, wheat and other agricultural crops are a favorite food. These habits have historically caused the American Crow to be considered a nuisance. However, it is suspected that the harm to crops is offset by the service the American Crow provides by eating insect pests.

American Crows are monogamous cooperative breeding birds. Mated pairs form large families of up to 15 individuals from several breeding seasons that remain together for many years. Offspring from a previous nesting season will usually remain with the family to assist in rearing new nestlings. American Crows do not reach breeding age for at least two years. Most do not leave the nest to breed for four to five years.

American Crows build bulky stick nests, nearly always in trees but sometimes also in large bushes and, very rarely, on the ground. They will nest in a wide variety of trees, including large conifers, although oaks are most often used. Three to six eggs are laid and incubated for 18 days. The young are fledged usually by about 35 days.

Despite attempts by humans in some areas to drive away or eliminate these birds, they remain widespread and very common. The number of individual American Crows is estimated by Birdlife International to be around 31,000,000. The large population, as well as its vast range, are the reasons why the American Crow is considered to be of least concern, meaning that the species is not at immediate risk.