House crow
Corvus splendens
SUBFAMILY
Corvinae
TAXONOMY
Corvus splendens Vieillot, 1817, Bengal. Four or five subspecies recognized.
OTHER COMMON NAMES
French: Corbeau familier; German: Glanzkrähe; Spanish: Corneja India.
PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS
15.6 in (40 cm); 8.57–12.07 oz (245–371 g). Plumage is black except for the nape, sides of the head, and breast, which are gray. Bill, legs, and feet also black.
DISTRIBUTION
Iran to India, Pakistan and Burma, self-introduced to East Africa, Indian Ocean islands, Malaysia, and South Africa.
HABITAT
Wholly dependent on human habitation; consequently found in villages, towns, and cities throughout its range.
BEHAVIOR
Highly vocal, gregarious birds, seemingly unafraid of humans. Will attack and chase off any large bird of prey.
FEEDING ECOLOGY AND DIET
Omnivorous. Diet includes seeds, fruit, grain, nectar, berries, bird's eggs, nestlings, mammals, reptiles, amphibians, fish, insects, wide range of carrion.
REPRODUCTIVE BIOLOGY
Solitary nester except in areas of high population density. Will use trees, buildings, or other artificial structures for rough stick nest. Three to four eggs March through July. Incubation 16–17 days; fledging 21–28 days.
CONSERVATION STATUS
Not threatened. Abundant throughout range.
SIGNIFICANCE TO HUMANS
Regarded as a major agricultural and human health pest in self-introduced areas. In South Africa, birds have been reported taking food from school children, killing chicks of domestic fowls, and repeatedly dive-bombing any person near the nest.
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