Hooded Crow Life Cycle: Nest Building To Fledging (and everything in between)
The Hooded Crow (Corvus cornix), also known as the Scald Crow or Hoodie, is a corvid found across northern, eastern and southeastern Europe as well as parts of the Middle East. These birds are so similar to Carrion Crows that it wasn’t until 2002 that they were classified as their own species.
Hooded Crows are an ash-grey colour, with a black head, throat, wings, tail and thigh feathers. As well as a black bill, eyes and feet. Just like other corvids, the Hooded Crow is an opportunistic omnivorous feeder.
In this article we’ll be taking a close look at the life cycle of the Hooded Crow from egg laying to fledging and much more besides. Keep reading to find out more about these fascinating birds.
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How Long Does A Hooded Crow Live?
The average lifespan of the Hooded Crow is around 4 years in the wild. In 2017, a Hooded Crow was found to have survived for more than 10 years according to ring records.
However, the maximum recorded age for a Hooded Crow is 16 years and 9 months. Sadly many never reach old age due to farmers considering the Hooded Crow to be a pest and shooting or poisoning them in their hundreds.
In the early 1980s in County Cork, Ireland, the county’s gun club shot more than 23,000 Hooded Crows over a 2 year period. Thankfully, since 1981 they have been protected by the Wildlife & Countryside Act. Under this act it is illegal to knowingly kill, injure or capture Hooded Crows.
How Fast Can A Hooded Crow Fly?
The Hooded Crow can fly at an average speed of 31 to 40 miles per hour (50 to 65 km/h). When in pursuit of prey or evading predators, they can possibly reach slightly higher flight speeds, but typically stay within this range.
The flight speed of the Hooded Crow, like that of other birds, can be affected by wind speed. Also Hooded Crows are not really designed for high speed flight. They are more suited for manoeuvrability which is needed to navigate their preferred habitats.
Are Hooded Crows Aggressive?
Although Hooded Crows are more social than their cousins the Carrion Crow, and can be seen feeding with others, they can still display aggressive tendencies. This is particularly true if any intruders stray too close to their nesting sites.
They are known for their intelligence and boldness which can often be displayed as assertive or aggressive behaviour. If Hooded Crows feel threatened, they are likely to mob predators or anyone that is perceived to have threatened the nest, eggs or chicks.
They will dive bomb humans and other birds or animals, attacking them with their sharp bills and vocalising loudly. When mixing with other birds, Hooded Crows often display dominant behaviour.
They will aggressively compete for food, nesting sites or other resources. Having said that, they will often join forces with other crows or birds to fend off predators. Their aggressiveness tends to be as a result of a threat either real or imagined.
What Is A Hooded Crow’s Habitat?
Hooded Crows are found in woodland, farmland, coastal areas, wetlands, grassland, moorland, towns and gardens. They breed in northern and eastern Europe and western Asia.
In the UK, Hooded Crows breed in north west Scotland, the Scottish Islands, the Isle of Man and Northern and Southern Ireland. During autumn, some migratory Hooded Crows arrive on the east coast of the UK to over winter.
How Long Does It Take For A Hooded Crow To Build A Nest?
Hooded Crows generally take around one to two weeks to build their nest. The exact time can vary depending on factors like the weather, the availability of materials, and the experience of the pair. Both the male and female work together on nest construction, gathering sticks, twigs, and other materials, and then lining the interior with softer items like moss, wool, or fur.
Nest building typically begins in early spring or late February if the weather is not too bad, with the female making slight adjustments to the nest even after it has been built.
Eggs
Once the female is satisfied with the construction of the nest, we move onto the next stage in the life cycle of the Hooded Crow, the eggs.
When Do Hooded Crows Lay Eggs?
Hooded Crows typically lay their eggs from March to May with April being the most active egg laying month. They time their egg laying to coincide with the start of warmer weather and the abundance of food availability.
How Many Eggs Does A Hooded Crow Lay?
Hooded Crows lay 3 to 6 eggs and only produce one brood per breeding season. The number of eggs laid depends on the age and experience of the female, her health, as well as climatic conditions.
What Do Hooded Crow Eggs Look Like?
The eggs are a blue or greenish-blue colour and speckled with brown spots. Each egg is around 43 x 30 mm in size and weighs around 19.8 to 20 grams.
How Long Do Hooded Crow Eggs Take To Hatch?
Hooded Crow eggs take anywhere between 18 to 20 days to hatch. The incubation is carried out solely by the female with the male standing guard close by and bringing her food when needed.
He might occasionally take over the incubation duties to allow his mate to stretch her wings.
Chicks
Once the eggs hatch, we move onto the next stage in the life cycle of the Hooded Crow, the chicks.
How Many Chicks Does A Hooded Crow Have?
It is quite common for all of the Hooded Crow eggs to hatch into chicks. Which means that if there are 5 eggs in the nest, then there will typically be 5 chicks that hatch.
However, in some cases, some eggs don’t get fertilised or fail to develop. In which case, there would be a deficit between eggs and chicks. This is often down to the inexperience of the pair who might not have turned the eggs as often as was needed.
When Do Hooded Crow Chicks Open Their Eyes?
When they first hatch, Hooded Crow chicks are blind, naked and completely dependent on their parents for their survival. These altricial chicks open their eyes from around day 7 and can typically see clearly by day 10.
On first opening their eyes, the chicks have blue eyes, these change to grey after around 2 weeks before changing to brown by the end of the summer.
As their eyesight develops so do their feathers which by day 10 are a soft down. As the chicks grow, they start to develop true feathers as well as their first flight feathers.
When Do Hooded Crow Chicks Fledge?
It’s not until around day 30 after hatching that the young chicks will learn to fly or fledge the nest. Once they successfully fledge, they still remain with their parents for some time, learning where and how to find food, evade predators and avoid any other dangers.
In some family units, young adults from the previous years nesting will help to look after this year’s fledglings.
SEE ALSO: Gadwall Diet and Size: Feeding Habits, Predators, and Measurements
Frequently Asked Questions
The average lifespan of a Hooded Crow is around 4 years in the wild. The oldest recorded Hooded Crow reached an impressive 16 years and 9 months according to ring data.
Hooded Crow eggs are a blue or greenish-blue colour, covered with brown speckles. Each egg is around 43 x 30 mm in size and weighs around 19.8 to 20 grams.
Hooded Crows are an ash-grey colour with a black head, throat, wings, tail and thigh feathers. As well as a black bill, eyes and feet.
