The hooded crow, aka hoodie, is considered a subspecies of the carrion crow. They can be found throughout Europe and into the Middle East. These birds face the threats of persecution seeing as they often steal game bird eggs and damage crops; habitat loss and destruction at the hands of farming, ranching, residential, and commercial developments; and they are vulnerable to bioaccumulation of heavy metals. Studies have found high levels of lead and cadmium within their organs, likely originating from phosphate fertilizers used in intensive agriculture. These birds are also subject to predation from raccoons, great horned owls, goshawks, eagle owls, and even other crows. West Nile Virus and blood parasites can also infect these birds, which contributes to mortality. However, despite all this, these birds are very adaptable and abundant, and thus listed as Least Concern by the IUCN. Their population trend is listed as increasing. This article is dedicated to Sandra.
First the Stats…
Scientific name: Corvus corone cornix
Weight: Up to 23 ounces
Length: Up to 20 inches
Wingspan: Up to 41 inches
Lifespan: Up to 16+ years
Now on to the Facts!
1.) They were originally described by Carl Linnaeus in his landmark 1758 10th edition of Systema Naturae.
2.) Over the years, other names for these crows have been coined such as Coatham crow, Royston crow, Scremerston crow, Danish crow, caróg liath, brân lwyd, grey crow, pied crow, dolman crow, and the fog crow.
3.) These crows produce a telltale “kraa” call.
4.) As a testament to their intelligence other crows will often watch a crow that caches food and then search the hiding place later when the original crow has left.
5.) Being opportunistic omnivorous scavengers, these birds will feast on the eggs of other birds, mice, juvenile rats, voles, moles, insects, various scraps, smaller birds, and carrion (dead animals).
But wait, there’s more on the hooded crow!
6.) Females lay up to 6 eggs that hatch in up to 19 days.
7.) Only the female incubates the eggs, while the male provides food.
Did you know…?
In Irish folklore, they appear on the shoulder of the dying Cú Chulainn, and might also be a manifestation of the Morrígan, the wife of Tethra, or the Cailleach.
8.) Chicks fledge in up to 36 days.
9.) They’re regularly killed by farmers and on grouse estates. In County Cork, Ireland, the county’s gun clubs shot over 23,000 hooded crows in 2 years in the early 1980s. Since 1981, they’ve been protected under the Wildlife & Countryside Act, making it illegal to knowingly kill, injure, or capture them.
10.) The old name of Royston crow hails from the days when these birds were common winter visitors to southern England, with the sheep fields around Royston, Hertfordshire providing available carcasses on which the birds would feed.
Now a Short Hooded Crow Video!
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Some source material acquired from: Wikipedia & IUCN
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