Field Guide/Birds/Corvus brachyrhynchos

Template:Taxobox The American Crow, Corvus brachyrhynchos, is a large passerine bird species of the Corvidae family. It 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.

Distribution and habitat

The range of the American Crow extends from the Pacific Ocean to the Atlantic Ocean in Canada, on the French islands of Saint-Pierre and Miquelon, south through the United States, and into northern Mexico. Virtually all types of country from wilderness, farmland, parks, open woodland to towns and major cities are inhabited. 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.

Behavior

Diet

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.

Nesting

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.

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. American Crows can also produce a wide variety of sounds and sometimes mimic noises made by other birds and animals.

American Crows are very common throughout North America.

Conservation status

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.

West Nile Virus

American Crows are very succeptible to the effects of the West Nile virus. Mortality rates appear to be higher than those in other birds, causing population losses of up to 65% in some areas in a single season. Because of this, American Crows are a sentinel species indicating the presence of West Nile virus in an area. Crows cannot transmit the virus to humans directly.

Crows in popular culture

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 embarrassment after having previously boasted.
• "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 segregated blacks.
• Likewise, the name "crow" was often applied as an insulting, early 20th century term for African-Americans. White vaudeville comedians Moran and Mack recorded a popular series of skits in the 1920s called "Two Black Crows", speaking in exaggerated Black American accents.

Similar species

The Northwestern Crow (Corvus caurinus) is very closely related to the American Crow. Structurally, they are difficult to distinguish from one another where their ranges overlap. However, the voice remains a distinct difference between the two species.

Visual differentiation from the Fish Crow (Corvus ossifragus) is extremely difficult and often innacurrate. Nonetheless, differences apart from size do exist. Fish Crows tend to have more slender bills and feet. There may also be a small sharp hook at the end of the upper bill. Fish Crows also appear as if they have shorter legs when walking. More dramatically, when calling, Fish Crows tend to hunch and fluff their throat feathers.

External links

Images

• American Crow Facts and Photos
• American Crow series
• American Crow
• Good closeup image
• Skull of American Crow

Video

• American Crow videos on the Internet Bird Collection

Audio

• American Crow call