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23

House Crow

(Corvus splendens)
Alternate name(s): "Indian Crow", "Grey-necked Crow", "Colombo Crow", "Ceylon Crow"
Size: 37-42 cm; wing span: 68-80 cm
Weight: 250-500 g
Description     Classification     Distribution     Sightings     Photos     Breeding     Nest     Eggs     Behaviour     Food     Call/s

Physical description

Click here for a physical description

Taxonomy, classification

See House Crow at Wikipedia .

Range, habitat

Click here for information on habitat and range

Sightings

Click here for sighting information

Photos

Race "splendens"(?)

ADULT

Sex unknown

Near-lateral view of a House Crow picking seeking shelter on a very hot day
[Campus of Sultan Qaboos University, near Muscat, September 2009]

Want your fur cleaned? Rent-a-Crow! Close-up lateral view of a House Crow picking parasites off a goat's fur
[Sharqiyah region, May 2010]

Lateral view of a House Crow
[Campus of Sultan Qaboos University, near Muscat, September 2009]

Dorsal view of a House Crow
[Campus of Sultan Qaboos University, near Muscat, November 2009]

Lateral view of a House Crow in flight
[Campus of Sultan Qaboos University, near Muscat, May 2010]

House Crow literally swooping an Indian Roller (a potential nest robber) off its perch
[Campus of Sultan Qaboos University, near Muscat, April 2010]

Breeding information

Breeding season: Apr - July Eggs: 3 - 5 Incubation period: ? Fledging age: ?

Nest building: ? Incubation: ? Dependent care: Female & male

Nest

Type: Basket Material: Sticks Height above ground: 5 - 20(?) m

House Crows are semi-colonial nesters; there can be several nests in one tall tree.

House Crow near its nest, which is still under construction
[Campus of Sultan Qaboos University, near Muscat, February 2010]

House Crow nest with three chicks in it
[Campus of Sultan Qaboos University, near Muscat, May 2010]

House Crow's nest that is still under construction
[Campus of Sultan Qaboos University, near Muscat, February 2010]

Eggs

Size: ? Colour: Light-blue with grey speckles Shape: Tapered oval

Behaviour

There is a separate page showing a House Crow taking a bath.

The House Crow shown below is not drinking, but is in fact rinsing something edible it had brought along. Once the food was clean, it was ready for consumption.

House Crow rinsing food
[Campus of Sultan Qaboos University, near Muscat, September 2009]

Food, Diet

We have seen House Crows take both plant material (flowers, fruit) and small animals (such as e.g. parasites they pick off goats), see photos below.

House Crow that has found something to eat
[Campus of Sultan Qaboos University, near Muscat, February 2010]

Near-lateral/ventral view of a House Crow holding an object while pecking away
[Campus of Sultan Qaboos University, near Muscat, September 2009]

Close-up lateral portrait of a House Crow with a potential meal
[Campus of Sultan Qaboos University, near Muscat, February 2010]

We clean heads as well... ticks are worth the effort
[Campus of Sultan Qaboos University, near Muscat, May 2010]

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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If interested, please CLICK HERE. Credits to contributors are given HERE.