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23

Carrion Crow (Corvus corone) German name(s): "Aaskrähe" Size: 48-52 cm; wing span 85-100 cm Weight: 370-670 g

Europe: Family Group 23 Family Group 23 Table Eurasian Nutcracker Red-billed Chough Alpine Chough Eurasian Jay Western Jackdaw Hooded Crow Carrion Crow Rook Common Raven Thumbnails page Family group table Index of bird names European birds home page

Similar species

Description     Classification     Distribution     Sightings     Photos     Breeding     Nest     Eggs     Behaviour     Food     Call/s

Physical description Click here for a physical description Carrion Crows are medium-sized corvids. Their plumage is all-black. The base of the dark-grey bill is covered with black feathers. The irises are black. The legs and feet are grey. Their most characteristic feature is the bill, which is stout, with a curved culmen.

Taxonomy, classification See Carrion Crow at Wikipedia . Click here for classification information Carrion Crows have now been given species status and are no longer considered to be conspecific with the Hooded Crow (Corvus cornix).

Range, habitat, finding this species Click here for information on habitat and range The overall distribution of this species can be assessed based on sighting reports submitted by birdwatchers to the ebird.org website. The global distribution of the Carrion Crow is available HERE . Carrion Crows are found mainly in western and northern Europe, but there is a scattered population throughout central to eastern Asia as well, in particular in Korea and Japan. In Europe Carrion Crows are a sedentary species that is found only in central and western Europe, to the West of a line of the rivers Oder and Neisse in Germany that, in its continuation, wraps around the eastern edge of the Alps. In the North and West their range extends to southern Denmark and central Scotland. They are NOT found in the northern Scottish highlands or or Ireland. In the South-west their range extends to roughly the northern half of Iberia. Part of the Carrion Crow population that usually lives at high altitude in the Alps spends the winters in the Po River flatlands of northern Italy. Carrion Crows can live in a variety of habitats. If not desperate for a feed, e.g. in winter time, as nest robbers they are usually wary, also of humans. In winter they are often found in agricultural areas and around carrion (including road kill).

Sightings Click here for sighting information H. Dahlem-Senger reports spotting Carrion Crows in Rüdesheim, Hessen, Germany, in November 2016. M. Thomas reports finding Carrion Crows in Eltville, Hessen, Germany, in February 2017. J. Pires reports finding Carrion Crows regularly in different areas in Portugal, and in particular from the Tejo estuary to Mora, Evora, Portugal. M. Eaton found Carrion Crows in Hyde Park, London, England, in September 2019.

Photos

ADULT

Sex unknown

Frontal view of a Carrion Crow looking sideways (photo courtesy of H. Dahlem-Senger)
[Rüdesheim, Hessen, Germany, November 2016]

Near-frontal view of a Carrion Crow (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Palhais, Barreiro, Setubal, Portugal, April 2014]

Near-frontal view of a Carrion Crow (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Mora, Evora, Portugal, January 2014]

Lateral view of a Carrion Crow looking at the observer (photo courtesy of H. Dahlem-Senger)
[Rüdesheim, Hessen, Germany, November 2016]

Lateral view of a Carrion Crow (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Hyde Park, London, England, September 2019]

Lateral view of a Carrion Crow (photo courtesy of M. Thomas)
[Eltville, Hessen, Germany, March 2018]

Lateral/ventral view of a Carrion Crow (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Rio Sorraia, Coruche, Santarem, Portugal, December 2017]

Near-dorsal view of a Carrion Crow (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Hyde Park, London, England, September 2019]

Near-dorsal view of a Carrion Crow (photo courtesy of M. Thomas)
[Eltville, Hessen, Germany, February 2017]

Near-dorsal view of a cawing Carrion Crow (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Montargil Dam, Evora, Portugal, January 2016]

Dorsal view of a Carrion Crow looking sideways (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Montargil, Alentejo, Portugal, May 2014]

Lateral view of two Carrion Crows in flight (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Palhais, Barreiro, Setubal, Portugal, March 2018]

Dorsal view of a Carrion Crow banking to land (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Montargil, Alentejo, Portugal, July 2014]

Food, Diet

Like all corvids, Carrion Crows are opportunistic omnivores.

Lateral view of a Carrion Crow with its next meal, probably an acorn (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Mora, Evora, Portugal, January 2014]

Carrion Crow foraging in shallow water (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Near Mora, Evora, Portugal, January 2018]

These pages are largely based on our own observations and those of our contributors. The structure of these bird pages is explained HERE. For more salient facts on any bird species please refer to a field guide.

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