Hooded Crow

What do Hooded Crows look like?

Hooded crows are large corvids, the same size as their close relative the carrion crow. They can be easily identified with their contrasting plumage, with a black head, bib, wings and tail, boldly standing out against an ash-grey body, belly, nape and rump. Their legs are dark grey and irises are dark brown.

Female hooded crows are identical to males in terms of colouring and plumage, and can only be told apart visually by their size (females are marginally smaller than males) and their behaviour.

Juvenile hooded crows are duller than adults, with a browner tinge to their grey plumage. Immature birds have blue-grey eyes, and the inside of their beaks is pinkish-red rather than the dark grey of adult birds.

How big are Hooded Crows?

Male hooded crows are usually noticeably larger than females in both length and weight.

• Length: 48 cm to 54 cm (18.9 in to 21.3 in)
• Wingspan: 93 cm to 105 cm (36.7 in to 41 in)
• Weight: 396 g to 602 g (14 oz to 21 oz)

What sound does a Hooded Crow make?

The call of the hooded crow is similar to the familiar harsh cawing of a carrion crow, although slightly softer and less hoarse.

What is the habitat of a Hooded Crow?

Hooded crows thrive in mixed farmland landscapes, with open land and some sparse tree cover. Parks and gardens are popular in urban areas, and the species is equally common in coastal areas as in expanses of moorland.

Hooded crows are also relatively tolerant of human presence and are frequently spotted scavenging on streets in busy city centres.

What is the range of a Hooded Crow?

Ireland and western Scotland form the western boundary of the range of hooded crows, which extends eastwards across northern Europe to western Russia.

To the south, the species is present across Mediterranean Europe, and into Egypt, throughout the Middle East and into Iran and Azerbaijan.

Where do Hooded Crows live?

Countries with the largest hooded crow populations include Norway, Sweden, and Finland in northern Europe, and Italy, Greece, Bulgaria and Turkey in the south. Russia has between 1 and 10 million resident hooded crows.

How rare are Hooded Crows?

Across their entire range (including Northern Ireland, western Scotland and the Isle of Man), hooded crows are common and widespread, and spotting one would not be considered an unusual or rare event. However, across England and Wales, the species is not well-established or numerous at all.

Out of breeding season, some migratory birds may be seen along the northern and eastern coast of England, but these sightings would be considered scarce.

Where can you see Hooded Crows in the UK?

In the northwest of Scotland and throughout Northern Ireland, hooded crows are far more prevalent than carrion crows, with the latter considered a rare vagrant species in these locations.

During winter months, the UK’s resident population of hooded crows increases with the arrival of overwintering birds that migrate from Scandinavia after the breeding season. These temporary residents may be spotted along the eastern coast of Scotland and England.

Do Hooded Crows migrate?

Most UK hooded crows are sedentary and resident in their territories all year round. The native population, found mainly in Ireland and northern Scotland, is joined in autumn by migratory hooded crows that leave their breeding grounds in Scandinavia in search of less harsh conditions until spring.

Such birds are not limited to the usual British breeding spots favoured by our resident hooded crows, meaning sightings may be recorded along the eastern coast of England.

Are Hooded Crows native to the UK?

Parts of the UK do have resident hooded crows all year round, including the Isle of Man, the whole of Northern Ireland and large areas of western and north-western Scotland. In these regions, hooded crows replace carrion crows.

• Look for Hooded Crows in open landscapes, parks, and urban areas
• Listen for their distinctive harsh 'kraa' call
• Observe their intelligent behaviour, such as tool use or problem-solving
• In the UK, focus on northern and eastern Scotland, where they are more common

What do Hooded Crows eat?

Hooded crows are ominvores, although their diet is primarily carnivorous. They scavenge for carrion, roadkill, scraps, small mammals, birds’ eggs and young nestlings.

At coastal locations, molluscs, crabs and sea urchins are frequently eaten. Small quantities of weeds, seeds and grain are also eaten.

What do Hooded Crow chicks eat?

Young hooded crows are fed almost entirely on insects in their first few weeks of life, adding grains, weeds and seeds as autumn approaches.

Where do Hooded Crows nest?

Hooded crows, like carrion crows, build bulky stick nests mostly in the upper branches of mature trees, but in the absence of suitable trees, they may get a bit more inventive, using electricity pylons or rocky ledges and clifftops.

Nests are usually at least 20 m (66 ft) from other birds and are formed from sticks and twigs, which are collected by the male and crafted into a nest structure by the female.

Construction usually takes between 7 and 8 days. Occasionally an existing nest may be repaired and reused. Moss, mud, animal fur and bones, and soft grasses are added as a rough lining, and hooded crows in coastal locations may incorporate seaweed into their nest structures.

What do Hooded Crow eggs look like?

A typical clutch contains 4 to 6 pale blue eggs, streaked heavily with dark brown mottled markings. Eggs are relatively large, measuring 4.3 cm × 3.0 cm (1.75 in by 1 in) and weighing 19.1 g (0.7 oz).

Incubation lasts for between 17 and 20 days, by the female alone, and in a typical breeding season pairs will raise one brood.

Do Hooded Crows mate for life?

When hooded crows pair up, it’s usually for life - with the pair bond lasting until one mate dies. With a lifespan that regularly surpasses 15 years, these bonds certainly class as long-term.

Are Hooded Crows aggressive?

Although pairs of hooded crows are generally solitary during the breeding season, they are more sociable than carrion crows and more tolerant of the company of other birds of the same species nearby.

Once breeding finishes, night-time roosts tend to be communal, and may be loosely formed of dozens of birds.

Where do Hooded Crows sleep at night?

Preferred night-time roosts of hooded crows are located in the upper branches of tall trees, and at dusk large groups of birds may gather together to form a communal overnight roost.

How long do Hooded Crows live?

The lifespan of a hooded crow is unknown, but is estimated to be around 4 years, with the oldest known individual to have reached 16.8 years. Breeding takes place for the first time in either the second or third year.

What are the predators of Hooded Crows?

A species with few natural predators, hooded crows are preyed on by very few other birds in the wild. These include golden eagles, Eurasian eagle owls, and northern goshawks. Occasionally buzzards will also prey on hooded crows.

Are Hooded Crows protected?

Hooded crows are protected under the Wildlife and Countryside Act, 1981, meaning that they cannot knowingly be killed, injured or caught and taken into captivity.

Are Hooded Crows endangered?

In the UK, hooded crows are classified as a Green species on the Birds of Conservation Concern list. Their population is currently stable, with losses in Scotland balanced out by increases in numbers in Northern Ireland. The British Isles are home to an estimated 285,000 pairs.

While the Hooded Crow is listed as Least Concern by the IUCN, local populations may face threats from habitat loss and persecution. In some areas, they are considered agricultural pests, leading to control measures. Conservation efforts focus on maintaining suitable habitats and educating the public about their ecological role.