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Northwestern Crow (Corvus caurinus)
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songbird's song
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FIELD MARKS
The Northwestern Crow is a slightly smaller version of the American Crow.
It also looks very similar to the Common Raven, but is
much smaller and has a slender bill and it's tail is squared off as opposed
to the raven's tail which is rounded. The two types of crows have
very much in common. The main difference is that the Northwestern Crow
lives on the coast preferring to be close to the shores of salt water,
where the American crow is more of an open country interior bird. Another
difference is its raspy, rough version of the familiar "caw". Approximate
length: 42 cm.
FOOD
The Northwestern Crow will eat almost anything. Along
the coast their diet consists mainly of seafood.
At low tide they can be seen scavenging along the shore line. Crows are
very resourceful and intelligent. Most people find crows undesirable because
they can be quite destructive to crops and often eat the eggs and young
of other more popular birds. Crows are well known for stashing food for
later use. Crows can often be seen dropping nuts and shells from high
elevations onto hard surfaces, such as rocks or pavement, in order to
brake them open.
HABITAT
This crow is highly adaptable to a variety of habitats. It prefers open
areas and shorelines when looking for food and forested areas when nesting
or resting. They also frequent town garbage dumps and agricultural areas.
The Northwestern Crow has found it easy to adapted to urban environment.
NESTING
The Northwestern Crow usually nests in a vertical fork of both coniferous
and deciduous trees. Their nests are made of sturdy sticks lined with
moss, grass, leaves, bark, rootlets, hair or rags. The female lays 4-6
dull blue-green or grayish eggs with brown and gray blotches.
STATUS
Very common and widespread. Its population has increased as a result of
human habitation.
DISTRIBUTION
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