Carrion Crow Life Cycle: Nest Building To Fledging (and everything in between)

The Carrion Crow (Corvus corone) is a noisy, intelligent bird found in most parts of the UK apart from the north west of Scotland, Northern Ireland and the Isle of Man. The close relative of the Carrion Crow, the Hooded Crow tends to represent the crow family in those areas where the Carrion Crow is missing in the UK.

Carrion Crows are all black with a glossy green or purple sheen, even the bill, legs and feet are all black. Slightly smaller than a Raven, the Carrion Crow is a largely solitary bird but becomes more sociable during winter.

In this article we’ll be looking at the life cycle of the Carrion Crow from egg laying to fledging and much more besides.

How Long Does A Carrion Crow Live?

The average life expectancy of a Carrion Crow in the wild is around 4 years. They typically start to breed or reach sexual maturity at the age of 2 years.

There are, of course, exceptions to the maximum age a Carrion Crow can reach. With one individual reaching an age of 20 years and 10 months according to ring records.

How Fast Can A Carrion Crow Fly?

The top flight speed of the Carrion Crow is around 31 miles per hour (50 km/h). The speed a bird can fly at is determined by the shape of its wings.

Carrion Crows have slots at the end of their wings that are sometimes called “fingers” which help them stay in the air whilst maintaining a low speed. This helps them to search for food as they slowly glide through the air.

Are Carrion Crows Aggressive?

Carrion Crows can be extremely aggressive particularly during the breeding season or when competing for food or nesting sites. They will also display aggression towards other birds including Crows to gain access to food.

Carrion Crows tend to be far more aggressive than their relatives the Hooded Crow. If you want to feed carrion Crows in your garden, it is wise to place a second bird feeder away from your regular bird table to prevent them bullying the smaller songbirds.

The Carrion Crow is well known for being a clever, fearless and adaptable bird. They are omnivorous and will eat carrion, seeds, nuts, invertebrates and have also been known to steal crops from humans particularly corn.

What Is A Carrion Crow’s Habitat?

Carrion Crows can be found in a wide range of habitats including  woodland, farmland, heathland, wetland, grassland, upland as well as urban and suburban habitats.

Carrion Crows are often seen in towns and cities as well as along the coastline of the UK. They compete with other social birds for food including gulls, ducks and other corvids.

How Long Does It Take For A Carrion Crow To Build A Nest?

It takes anywhere between 1 to 2 weeks for a Carrion Crows nest to be completed. The actual time it takes to build the nest depends on the weather conditions and the availability of materials.

Both the male and the female participate in the construction of the nest. Although the female does most of the construction with the male gathering suitable materials.

They start constructing the nest as early as February but usually don’t lay their eggs until late April and May. The nest is made from sticks, twigs, bones, rags, plant stalks, clay, hair, fur and feathers. The nest is typically around 1.5 feet (45 cm) across and 8 to 10 inches (20 to 25 cm) deep.

Carrion Crows nests are typically placed towards the top of a tall tree, but they will also use cliff ledges, pylons and old buildings.

Eggs

Once the nest has been constructed to the female’s satisfaction, she will lay her eggs. This is a critical time in the life cycle of the Carrion Crow as it marks the start of a new life.

When Do Carrion Crows Lay Eggs?

Carrion Crows generally lay their eggs in late April or May. They time their egg laying to coincide with the best time for an abundance of nutritious food being available for the chicks. 

As well as the time when the weather has warmed up enough that their chicks won’t become too cold once they hatch.

How Many Eggs Does A Carrion Crow Lay?

The female will lay 3 to 5 eggs with 4 being a typical clutch size. The pair will only produce one brood per season which enables them to give the chicks the level of care they need to survive their early life.

What Do Carrion Crow Eggs Look Like?

Carrion Crow eggs are blue or greenish-blue in colour with brown speckles. Each egg is around 43 x 30 mm in size and weighs around 19 to 20 grams.

How Long Do Carrion Crow Eggs Take To Hatch?

The eggs are incubated for around 18 to 20 days before they hatch. The incubation duties are carried out solely by the female although the male remains local to provide her with food and protect the nest and will occasionally sit on the eggs while the female is stretching her wings.

Chicks

After the eggs successfully hatch, we move onto the next stage in the life cycle of the Carrion Crow, the chicks.

How Many Chicks Does A Carrion Crow Have?

In most cases, the number of chicks that hatch corresponds to the number of eggs laid. Which typically means that a Carrion Crow pair will raise around 3 to 5 chicks each year.

When Do Carrion Crow Chicks Open Their Eyes?

The chicks are altricial which means they hatch with their eyes closed and are completely naked and dependent on their parents for their very survival. Thermoregulation is poorly developed in newly hatched Carrion Crow chicks which means they rely on their parents to regulate their temperature during their early days.

They typically open their eyes on day 8 and can see properly after around day 10 or 11. When they first open their eyes, they will be blue in colour. They change to grey after a few weeks and will transition to brown by the end of the summer.

When Do Carrion Crow Chicks Fledge?

As the chicks develop they start to grow down at about the same time as their eyes open. By 21 days after hatching they are mostly covered in feathers.

They typically fledge around day 29 or 30 after hatching. Even after fledging, the young fledglings stay with their parents for around 21 to 28 days learning how to find food and survive on their own.

In many cases, offspring from  previous years stay close to help to rear the youngsters. Instead of finding a mate of their own, they will assist the parents with this year’s chicks. They will find food and give it to the parents to feed the young chicks or even feed them themselves.

SEE ALSO: Sparrowhawk Diet and Size: Feeding Habits, Predators, and Measurements

Frequently Asked Questions