Fish Crow

Corvus ossifragus

Order PASSERIFORMES - Family CORVIDAE

Menu

1. Cool Facts
2. Description
3. Similar Species
4. Sound
5. Range
6. Habitat
7. Food
8. Behavior
9. Reproduction
10. Conservation Status
11. Other Names

One of the few birds found exclusively in the United States, the Fish Crow is a common bird of the southeastern coast. It has been expanding its range inland and up river valleys, using urban areas in its spread. It is very similar to its more familiar relative the American Crow, and can be distinguished reliably only by voice.

Cool Facts

• Members of a mated pair frequently preen the back of each other's head.

• One nesting pair of Fish Crows adopted a fledgling Blue Jay that appeared in their nest. The crows fed the jay for two weeks before it disappeared.

• Fish Crows build a new nest for each breeding attempt. The nests are well-made, and one small area may have existing nests from up to four different years.

Description

• Size: 36-40 cm (14-16 in)
• Wingspan: 84 cm (33 in)
• Weight: 195-330 g (6.88-11.65 ounces)

• A smallish crow.
• All black.

• Some iridescence on back.
• Bill and feet black.
• Eye dark.
• Moderate to short square tail.

Sex Differences

Sexes alike.

Immature

Juvenile similar to adult, but head feathers not glossy and more fluffy, inside of mouth red. Gets more glossy feathers in fall, but wing and tail feathers become brownish over the first year.

Similar Species

• American Crow is slightly larger and very similar. Calls of Fish Crow are more nasal.

Sound

Nasal "awp" or double-noted "uh-uh."

»listen to songs of this species

Range

Summer Range

Along Atlantic and Gulf coasts and inland from southern Maine to eastern Texas, and up large rivers to Illinois, Oklahoma, and Kansas. Isolated populations further inland in New York.

Winter Range

Same as summer range, but moves to areas of abundant food. Wintering areas may be north and inland of breeding area.

Habitat

Primarily coastal, along beaches and marshes into forests. Usually near water, but breeds in urban areas and farmland away from coast and large bodies of water. Common at dumps and in urban areas.

Food

Omnivorous. Carrion, garbage, bird eggs and nestlings, waste grain, fruit.

Behavior

Foraging

Walks on ground. Probes in dirt. Holds items under its feet to peck them apart.

Reproduction

Nest Type

Open cup of sticks with softer lining usually placed high in tree.

Egg Description

Pale bluish green with brown markings.

Clutch Size

2-6 eggs.

Condition at Hatching

Naked and helpless.

Conservation Status

Not threatened. Increasing populations in most parts of range. May have negative impact on some species of breeding birds, especially colonially nesting species.

Other Names

Corneille de rivage (French)
Cuervo pescador (Spanish)

Sources used to construct this page:

McGowan, K. J. 2001. Fish Crow (Corvus ossifragus). In The Birds of North America, No. 589 (A. Poole and F. Gill, eds.). The Birds of North America, Inc., Philadelphia, PA.