Winter Backyard Birds (U.S. and Canada)

American  Crow

SCIENTIFIC NAME: Corvus Brachyrhynchos

Adults are completely black, their feathers have a glossy and slightly iridescent look. Stiff bristles cover their nostrils.

About 20% of the males are slightly larger than the females.

Juveniles are similar to the adults but may show slightly shaggier unkempt appearance.

BILL: black, thick and slightly hooked.

SIZE: large, measuring about 16 - 20 inches from beak to tail.

WEIGHT: weighs about 300 - 600 grams.

COLOR: iridescent black.

Primary Diet:  omnivore.

Animal Foods: birds mammals amphibians reptiles eggs carrion insects terrestrial non-insect arthropods mollusks terrestrial worms.

Plant Foods: seeds, grains, and nuts fruit.

Open areas with nearby trees, agricultural and grassland areas, nearby woodlots and forest edges for breeding and roosting. Thrive in suburban neighborhoods and urban parks, as well as in coastal habitats.

Pacific Ocean to the Atlantic Ocean in Canada, on the French islands of Saint-Pierre and Miquelon, south through the United States, and into northern Mexico.

Most usual call is a loud, short, and rapid "caah-caah-caah". Can also produce a wide variety of sounds and sometimes mimic noises made by other animals, including other birds.

NEST: bulky stick nests, nearly always in trees but sometimes also in large bushes and, very rarely, on the ground.

EGGS: 3 - 6 blue-green to olive green with dark markings eggs.

INCUBATION: 18 days, both sexes.

FLEDGLING PHASE: about 35 days.

They are cooperative breeders, they stay close to the place where they born to help raise the young and defend the area against predators. They participate in winter roosts or large flocks searching for food.

REFERENCES: https://www.thespruce.com

                          https://animaldiversity.org

                          https://en.wikipedia.org

                          https://www.beautyofbirds.com