Measurements
Both Sexes
- Length
- 14.2–15.7 in
36–40 cm - Wingspan
- 33.1 in
84 cm - Weight
- 6.9–11.6 oz
195–330 g
Other Names
- Corneille de rivage (French)
- Cuervo pescador (Spanish)
Cool Facts
- Members of a mated pair frequently preen the back of each other's head.
- One nesting pair of Fish Crows adopted a fledgling Blue Jay that appeared in their nest. The crows fed the jay for two weeks before it disappeared.
- Fish Crows build a new nest for each breeding attempt. The nests are well-made, and one small area may have existing nests from up to four different years.
Habitat
Shore-line
Primarily coastal, along beaches and marshes into forests. Usually near water, but breeds in urban areas and farmland away from coast and large bodies of water. Common at dumps and in urban areas.
Food
Omnivore
Omnivorous. Carrion, garbage, bird eggs and nestlings, waste grain, fruit.
Nesting
Nesting Facts
- Clutch Size
- 2–6 eggs
- Egg Description
- Pale bluish green with brown markings.
- Condition at Hatching
- Naked and helpless.
Nest Description
Open cup of sticks with softer lining usually placed high in tree.
Nest Placement
Tree
Behavior
Ground Forager
Walks on ground. Probes in dirt. Holds items under its feet to peck them apart.
Conservation
Least Concern
Not threatened. Increasing populations in most parts of range. May have negative impact on some species of breeding birds, especially colonially nesting species.
Credits
- McGowan, K. J. 2001. Fish Crow (Corvus ossifragus). In The Birds of North America, No. 589 (A. Poole and F. Gill, eds.). The Birds of North America, Inc., Philadelphia, PA.