Carrion Crow (Corvus corone) lives in temperate forests across Europe and Asia. It feeds on insects and carrion. Its conservation status is Least Concern.
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A real field recording of the Carrion Crow, made in the wild.
The carrion crow measures about 48-52 cm in length, which is noticeably shorter than the common raven's average 63 cm, a difference that birdwatchers often use to tell the two species apart. Its wingspan ranges from 84 to 100 cm, giving it a broad silhouette in flight. Adults weigh between 400 and 600 g, adding to its stockier appearance compared with the slimmer raven. These dimensions together make the crow a distinct, medium-sized corvid in the field.
In controlled experiments carrion crows have demonstrated the ability to discriminate between numbers as high as 30, a level of numerical competence that rivals many primates. This skill is achieved despite their brain architecture being very different from that of mammals, highlighting convergent evolution in intelligence. The birds also flexibly switch between learned rules during testing, showing behavioural adaptability.
Carrion crows readily become tame around people and are frequently seen in cities, farms, parks and other human-occupied areas where they compete for food. They often forage alongside gulls, other corvids and ducks, taking scraps, waste and discarded human food. Their willingness to nest on buildings, pylons or cliff ledges brings them even closer to human settlements.
Older offspring often remain near the nest after they have fledged, staying around to help rear the new hatchlings. They forgo searching for their own mates and instead look for food, assisting the parents in feeding the young. This cooperative behaviour occurs in the bulky stick nests that are usually placed in tall trees, cliff ledges, old buildings or pylons, where the female incubates three or four speckled eggs for 18-20 days while the male supplies her.
Sources
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In the shadowy realms of woodland and moor, the Carrion Crow reigns as a master of mystery, its ebony silhouette slicing through the mist with an air of silent purpose. With eyes that gleam like polished onyx, this sleek and intelligent bird navigates its domain with a fluid, almost feline, grace, ever vigilant for the telltale signs of death and decay that signal its next meal. As it moves, its call echoes through the landscape, a low, throaty rasp that weaves a haunting melody into the fabric of the wild.
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