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The American crow ( Corvus brachyrhynchos) is a large passerine bird species of the family Corvidae. It is a common bird found throughout much of North America. American crows are the New World counterpart to the carrion crow and the hooded crow of Eurasia; they all occupy the same ecological niche. Although the American crow and the hooded crow are very similar in size, structure and behavior, their Bird call and visual appearance are different.
From beak to tail, an American crow measures , almost half of which is tail. Its wingspan is . Mass ranges from about , with males tending to be larger than females. Plumage is all black, with iridescent . It looks much like other all-black corvids. They are very intelligent, and adaptable to human environments. The most common call they use is They can be distinguished from the common raven ( C. corax) because American crows are smaller and the beak is slightly less pronounced; from the fish crow ( C. ossifragus) because American crows do not hunch and fluff their throat feathers when they call; and from the carrion crow ( C. corone) by size, as the carrion crow is larger and of a stockier build.
American crows are common, widespread, and susceptible to the West Nile virus, making them useful as a bioindicator to track the virus's spread. Direct transmission of the virus from crows to humans is impossible.
A 2012 genetic analysis of the genus Corvus by Knud A Jønsson and colleagues using nuclear and mitochondrial DNA calculated that the American crow diverged from a lineage that gave rise to the collared, carrion and hooded crows around 5 million years ago.
"American crow" has been designated the official name by the International Ornithologists' Union (IOU).
Visual differentiation from the fish crow ( C. ossifragus) is extremely difficult and often inaccurate. Nonetheless, differences apart from size do exist. Fish crows tend to have more slender bills and feet. There may also be a small sharp hook at the end of the fish crow's upper bill. Fish crows also appear as if they have shorter legs when walking. More dramatically, when calling, fish crows tend to hunch and fluff their throat feathers.
If seen flying at a distance from where size estimates are unreliable, the distinctly larger ( C. corax) can be distinguished by their almost lozenge-shaped tail and their larger-looking heads. They also fluff their throat feathers when calling – like fish crows, only more so. Ravens also soar for extended periods, unlike crows, which rarely fly more than a few seconds without flapping their wings.
Crows have been noted to be intelligent. They have the same brain-weight-to-body ratio as humans. This has led to some studies that have identified that crows are self-aware and that young crows take time to learn from tolerant parents. While a human has a neocortex, the crow uses a different area in its brain, the avian pallium, to perform similar tasks.
The average lifespan of the American crow in the wild is 7–8 years. Captive birds are known to have lived up to 30 years.
The American crow was recorded in Bermuda from 1876 onwards.
Like most crows, they will Scavenger at , scattering garbage in the process. Where available, maize, wheat and other crops are a favorite food. These habits have historically caused the American crow to be considered a nuisance. However, it is suspected that the harm to crops is offset by the service the American crow provides by eating insect pests.
The nesting season starts early, with some birds incubating eggs by early April. American crows build bulky stick Bird nest, nearly always in trees but sometimes also in large bushes and, very rarely, on the ground. They will nest in a wide variety of trees, including large , although are most often used. Three to six eggs are laid and incubated for 18 days. The young are usually by about 36 days after hatching. Predation primarily occurs at the nest site and eggs and nestlings are frequently eaten by , , and . Adults are less frequently predated, but face potential attack from great horned owls, , and . They may be attacked by predation such as or at carrion when incautious, although this is even rarer.Johnson, Ron American Crows . Internet Center for Wildlife Damage Management
Although matings between relatives can cause inbreeding depression, that is, negative effects on offspring fitness, a number of species nevertheless prefer inbreeding. The American crow experiences inbreeding depression (as measured by fledgling survival) but still prefers inbreeding.
Conversely, they are seen by some neo-pagan and indigenous cultures as signs of good luck, or even signs of certain gods, such as Apollo, Odin, and others.
Crows have been killed in large numbers by humans, both for recreation and as part of organized campaigns of extermination. In Canada, American crows have no protections, aside from Quebec, which bans their hunting during the nesting season. Laws on their hunting vary throughout the United States. New Jersey allows for a limited hunting season, unless they are agricultural pests, in which case they may be killed. Oklahoma allows hunting even during the nesting season. In the first half of the 20th century, state-sponsored campaigns dynamited roosting areas, taking large numbers of crows. A campaign in Oklahoma from 1934 to 1945 dynamited 3.8 million birds. The effect on populations was negligible and damage to agricultural crops did not decrease, and thus the campaign was halted due to its ineffectiveness. In a study taking data from 1917 to 1999, intentional killings were the overwhelming cause of death for crows, accounting for 68% of all recovered .
Non-deadly methods of managing crows are varied but usually limited in their effectiveness. High value crops may be netted, but this is cost prohibitive for most other crops. Frightening may be used to disperse crows, including loud noises from guns, fake hawks flown from balloons, fake owls that move with the wind, strips of reflective tape on fences, or recordings of crow distress calls. Poisoned baits are of limited effectiveness, as only the most toxic baits work, and those are generally unacceptable for use. Crows quickly learn to avoid the less-toxic baits, as the baits make crows sick. The actual effect of crows on agriculture has been poorly studied. There is some suggestion that they may be a benefit to farmers, by eating insect pests and chasing off livestock predators like hawks.
West Nile virus
American crows succumb easily to West Nile virus infection. This was originally a mosquito-borne virus causing encephalitis in humans and livestock since about 1000 AD, and was accidentally introduced to North America in 1999, apparently by an air traveller who was infected by a mosquito bite after arrival. It is estimated that the American crow population has dropped by up to 45% since 1999. Despite this decline, the crow is considered a species of least concern.
The disease runs most rampant in the subtropical conditions which encourage reproduction of its mosquito vectors among which Culex tarsalis is most significant. Mortality rates appear to be higher than those in other birds, causing local population losses of up to 72% in a single season. Because of this, American crows are a sentinel species indicating the presence of West Nile virus in an area. Crows cannot transmit the virus to humans directly.
Intelligence
American crows, like other corvids, are highly cunning and inquisitive. They are able to steal food from other species, often in creative ways. One example shows a group of crows stealing a fish from a Northern river otter: one bird pecked the otter's tail to distract it while other birds swooped in and stole the fish. They are able to use and modify tools.
Relationship with humans
Crows are used as a motif in some human cultures, often associated with death, thieves, graveyards, bad luck, and other negative connotations.
Status and management
The intelligence and adaptability of the American crow has insulated it from threats, and it is instead considered an agricultural pest. In 2012, BirdLife International estimated the American crow population to be around 31 million. The large population and vast range result in the least concern status for the American crow, meaning that the species is not threatened with extinction.
Bibliography
External links
target="_blank" rel="nofollow"> Skull of American Crow
target="_blank" rel="nofollow"> American Crow call
target="_blank" rel="nofollow"> Northwestern Crow call (two birds)
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