Hooded Crow: a two-minute wildlife lesson

Clever Birds · day 1 of 7

Five facts

1. A hooded crow drops molluscs and crabs to break them open. Empty sea urchin shells were once called 'crow's cups' in Scotland.
2. Hooded crows hide food in rain gutters, flower pots or under bushes. Other crows watch, then search the hiding place later.
3. Like parrots, hooded crows can imitate human language. They also use sticks to get at food stuck in cracks and tiny holes.
4. Hooded and carrion crows are almost genetic twins. Under 0.28 % of the hooded crow's genome is switched off, giving it a paler grey body.
5. Near the sea, hooded crows often build seaweed into their nests, and they like to add animal bones and bits of wire too.

The quiz

1. What do hooded crows drop to break them open?

• Pebbles and stones
• Molluscs and crabs (correct)
• Leaves and twigs
• Pine cones and bark

They drop molluscs and crabs to break them open.

2. What do other crows do when a hooded crow hides food?

• They guard the spot
• They bring more food
• They watch and search later (correct)
• They ignore it

Other crows watch, then search the hiding place once the first crow has left.

3. What can hooded crows imitate, like parrots?

• Human language (correct)
• Dog barks
• Car horns
• Songbirds

Like parrots, hooded crows can imitate human language.

4. How much of the hooded crow's genome is switched off?

• More than 5 %
• About 1 %
• Exactly half
• Less than 0.28 % (correct)

Under 0.28 % of its genome is switched off, and that small difference gives its body the paler grey colour.

5. What do coastal hooded crows often weave into their nests?

• Flower petals
• Spider silk
• Shiny coins
• Seaweed (correct)

Near the sea, hooded crows often build seaweed into their nests.

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