Carrion Crow

Scientific name: Corvus corone

Did you know: Carrion Crows have demonstrated the ability to recognise and remember human faces, particularly those who pose a threat or offer food.

What Do Carrion Crows Look Like? (how to identify them)

Carrion Crows boast an impressive, glossy black coat that gleams under sunlight. These birds are medium-sized with a robust build, sporting a wingspan of 92 – 105cm and weighing between 365 – 655g.

Their sharp, slightly hooked black bill is adept at handling a variety of foods, from seeds to small animals. The distinct orange-yellow eyes, encircled by black feathers, give them a striking appearance.

Differences Between Male And Female Carrion Crows

Male and female Carrion Crows are similar in size and colour, making them difficult to distinguish by appearance alone. Both genders share the same sleek black plumage and intense yellow-eyed gaze.

What Do Carrion Crows Eat?

Carrion Crows are versatile eaters. Their diet includes carrion, insects, worms, seeds, fruit, and eggs. They are known to adapt their feeding habits to their environment, which often leads them to human-populated areas where they scavenge for scraps.

Where Do Carrion Crows Live? (inc. migration info)

Carrion Crows are a resilient and widespread species found across various habitats in the UK—from woodlands and grasslands to urban areas and coastal regions.

Remarkably adaptable, they do not migrate and are year-round residents in their locales, whether they are perching in city parks or nesting in coastal cliffs.

Bird Calls & Songs (the unique voices of Carrion Crows)

The call of a Carrion Crow is unmistakable—a deep, resonant “kraa” that varies in intensity and pitch. Often heard in sequences, these calls serve as communication amongst crows and can signify everything from alerting others to threats to claiming territory.

Fun Carrion Crow Facts (kid friendly)

Carrion Crows have been observed using sticks to extract insects from tight spaces.
These birds are known to drop hard-shelled snacks onto roads and let cars crack them open.
Carrion Crows can imitate the calls of other birds and even some human-made sounds.
While often seen alone, during winter they may gather in large, noisy groups.
Carrion Crows remember people who are kind or threatening to them, altering their behaviour based on past interactions.
They build large, sturdy nests decorated with materials like twigs, bones, and even bits of wire.
These crows can live up to 20 years in the wild, much longer than many other bird species.

Facts About The Carrion Crow

Diet: They eat carrion, fruit, insects, seeds, eggs and scraps
Length: 45 - 48cm
Wingspan: 92 - 105cm
Weight: 365 - 655g
Scientific Name: Corvus corone