Hooded Crow

Corvus corone cornix

This is a race of the species known simply as 'Crow'. In Britain Hooded Crows live in northern and western Scotland and Carrion Crow over the rest of the country. Carrion Crows are basically black but Hooded Crows have a hood (nape, back, most of underparts and rump) of ash grey. Most populations sedentary.

These are big birds for passerines and the most hated of the scavengers by game keepers. They are very intelligent and can be very difficult to trap or shoot. They will take game bird eggs and chicks during the breeding season. This species is found round the whole of Europe and Asia except the tropics and the high arctic tundra. British and Irish breeding population estimate is 450,000 with 20,000 hybrids and 790,000 Carrion Crows.

A big crow - 100 species world-wide.

Length	460 mm
Closed wing	325 mm
Weight	540 gms

A Bird On! Sketch by Chris Mead
Copyright © 1996 by Jacobi Jayne & Company and Chris Mead