House Crow
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| House Crow | ||||||||||||||
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| Corvus splendens Vieillot, 1817 |
The House Crow (Corvus splendens) sits between the Jackdaw and the Carrion Crow in size (40 cm in length) but is quite slimmer proportionately than either. The forehead, crown, throat and upper breast are a richly glossed black while the neck and breast are a lighter grey-brown in colour. The wings, tail and legs are black. There are various regional forms that differ mainly in the depth of coloring in their various parts and thickness of bill.
Range: India, Pakistan, Ceylon, Maldives and Laccadive Islands, South West Thailand, coastal southern Iran and East Africa around Zanzibar and Port Sudan (both introduced). It has occurred in Australia via ship but has up to now been exterminated. It is associated with human settlements in all of its range from small village to large city and is never found away from it.
Food: Feeds largely on human scraps, small reptiles and other animals such as insects and other small invertebrates, eggs, nestling's, grain and fruits. Most food taken from the ground but also from trees as opportunity arises.
Nest: At least some trees in the local environment seem to be necessary for its successful breeding. Eggs, 3-6 in typical stick nest, occasionally several nests in the same tree.
Voice: A harsh caaa-caaa often while flying (unlike most crows that usually only caw while stationary).
Due to population explosion in the areas it inhabits, this species too has proportionately multiplied. Being a omnivorous scavenger has enabled it to thrive in such circumstances given that cleanliness in the Indian subcontinent is not common. Moreover this variety is known for its cleverness. Among bird hunters it is generally accepted that unlike other birds, these crows can instantly recognise a gun when it sees one, and takes flight in an instant.
Photo Image Links
- House Crow (http://www.mangoverde.com/birdsound/images/00000003442.jpg)
- Group of birds on a beach (http://www.magikcircle.com/birds/pictures/671/IMG_4418A.jpg)
- House Crow (http://www.kolkatabirds.com/saldino/shousecrow.jpg)de:Glanzkrähe
