Carrion crow

    Corvus corone

Castilian: Corneja común

Catalan: Cornella

Gallego: Corvo pequeno

Euskera: Belabeltza

CLASIFICACIÓN:

Orden: Passeriformes

Family: Corvidae

Migratory status: Permanent resident

CONSERVATION STATUS:

In the 2004 edition of the Red Book of Spanish Birds (Libro Rojo de las Aves de España) it is listed as “Not Evaluated”.

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THREATS

Its ability to adapt and tolerate humans allow it to currently be free from conservation problems.

Length / size: 44-51 cm / 84-100 cm

Identification: Crow that is smaller than the raven and that is completely black with some bright parts on its back and wings. It is also distinguished by its short, blunt bill and by its shorter and wider wings.

Song: Wide variety of deep, metallic "kraaar" sounds.

Diet: It adapts to the resources it has at that moment, and thus it can feed on invertebrates, fruits, seeds, small vertebrates, carrion, and scraps that it finds in landfills.

Reproduction: In March the birds form pairs and build their nest, which is usually located in the bark ridges of trees, and they use branches, sticks and even plastic materials to build it. The female does the incubation alone and, after the eggs hatch, the chicks are cared for by both parents.

HABITAT

It is very versatile and adapts to many environments, although it shows a preference for open areas with some wooded areas. It is found from sea level up to elevations of more than 1,800 metres.

DISTRIBUTION

In Spain: Distributed throughout the northern half and practically absent in the southern half, being limited to Albacete and the mountains of Jaen, Granada, and Almería.

In Castile and León: It breeds in all the provinces, and its population density fluctuates depending on human persecution. Noteworthy places in which it is present are León, southern Burgos, northern Zamora, and Segovia.

Movements and migrations: It is a sedentary nesting species.

POPULATION

In Spain: There is an estimated population of 310000-530000 breeding pairs.

In Castile and León: