Crow Fact Sheet
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
Load more
Recommended publications
-
Bird Studies Overview
Chapter 7. Bird Studies Overview teigerwald Lake National Wildlife Refuge provides a variety of habitats for many species of birds. Thousands of breeding birds rely on the resources of the refuge to Srest, eat, and raise their young. In addition, the refuge supports wetlands that are vital to the survival of migratory birds. The activities that follow offer an excellent opportunity for students to learn about and to observe the different species of birds — their behaviors and adaptations to the habitats on the refuge. Background The actively managed refuge wetlands and grasslands, when combined with the natural floodplain vegetative communities, provide habitat that supports over 200 species of birds. Hundreds of thousands of birds migrate along the lower Columbia River every year. The refuge hosts thousands of migratory birds that fly thousands of miles from their breeding grounds in Arctic Canada and Alaska to their wintering grounds in Baja California or South America, a route known as the Pacific Flyway. The few remaining areas of wetland habitat along the lower Columbia River are vital to the flyway. Some birds spend their winter on refuge wetlands, returning north to nest; some nest here but migrate to milder climates in the south for the winter; and some do not migrate at all but remain in the area as permanent residents. Several of the songbirds found in the summer spend our winters in Central and South America, migrating thousands of miles annually between their summer and winter habitats. Birds using the refuge are specifically adapted to the type of food they eat and the type of habitat they occupy (open water, freshwater wetland, field, riparian woodland, or upland woodland). -
Kansas Ornithological Society BULLETIN PUBLISHED QUARTERLY
Kansas Ornithological Society BULLETIN PUBLISHED QUARTERLY Vol. 60 December, 2009 No. 4 FISH CROW (Corvus ossifragus) RANGE EXPANSION IN KANSAS Tyler L. Hicks1 1Washington State University Vancouver, Science Program, 14024 NE Salmon Creek Ave., Vancouver, WA 98686 ([email protected]) ABSTRACT The Fish Crow (Corvus ossifragus) has been expanding its range across North America. In the last quarter century the species has made significant advances into Kansas. Utilizing a wide variety of professional and amateur ornithologist’s records I constructed a database of Fish Crow sightings in Kansas during the past 25 years. Utilizing this database and ArcGIS mapping systems I determined the phenology and mapped the current range of Fish Crow in Kansas. In addition, I calculated temporal and spatial rates of expansion for the Fish Crow across the state. I found over 480 individual Fish Crows have been recorded in 20 counties in the south-central and eastern regions of the state. Expansion across the state varied temporally and spatially with the majority of Fish Crow expansion taking place between 1999 and 2009. Expansion rates statewide averaged ~ 18 km/year. However, patterns and rates of expansion along river systems varied drastically. INTRODUCTION The Fish Crow (Corvus ossifragus) is a medium-sized, all-black corvid that can be found in forested riparian areas in eastern and south-central Kansas. Until recently their distribution was restricted to the far southeastern corner of the state, primarily along the Spring River drainage in Cherokee County (Thompson and Ely 1992). The species has been expanding its range for the past 50 years in Missouri and Oklahoma, where it was first documented in 1954 and 1955 respectfully and had spread to counties bordering Kansas by the mid-1980’s (Wilhelm 1960, Baumgartner and Baumgartner 1992, Robbins and Easterla 1992). -
Crows and Ravens Wildlife Notes
12. Crows & Ravens Crows and ravens belong to the large family Corvidae, along with more than 200 other species including jays, nutcrackers and magpies. These less-than-melodious birds, you may be surprised to learn, are classified as songbirds. raven American Crow insects, grain, fruit, the eggs and young of other birds, Crows are some of the most conspicuous and best known organic garbage and just about anything that they can find of all birds. They are intelligent, wary and adapt well to or overpower. Crows also feed on the carcasses of winter – human activity. As with most other wildlife species, crows and road-killed animals. are considered to have “good” points and “bad” ones— value judgements made strictly by humans. They are found Crows have extremely keen senses of sight and hearing. in all 50 states and parts of Canada and Mexico. They are wary and usually post sentries while they feed. Sentry birds watch for danger, ready to alert the feeding birds with a sharp alarm caw. Once aloft, crows fly at 25 Biology to 30 mph. If a strong tail wind is present, they can hit 60 Also known as the common crow, an adult American mph. These skillful fliers have a large repertoire of moves crow weighs about 20 ounces. Its body length is 15 to 18 designed to throw off airborne predators. inches and its wings span up to three feet. Both males Crows are relatively gregarious. Throughout most of the and females are black from their beaks to the tips of their year, they flock in groups ranging from family units to tails. -
Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge BIRD LIST
Merrritt Island National Wildlife Refuge U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service P.O. Box 2683 Titusville, FL 32781 http://www.fws.gov/refuge/Merritt_Island 321/861 0669 Visitor Center Merritt Island U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service 1 800/344 WILD National Wildlife Refuge March 2019 Bird List photo: James Lyon Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge, located just Seasonal Occurrences east of Titusville, shares a common boundary with the SP - Spring - March, April, May John F. Kennedy Space Center. Its coastal location, SU - Summer - June, July, August tropic-like climate, and wide variety of habitat types FA - Fall - September, October, November contribute to Merritt Island’s diverse bird population. WN - Winter - December, January, February The Florida Ornithological Society Records Committee lists 521 species of birds statewide. To date, 359 You may see some species outside the seasons indicated species have been identified on the refuge. on this checklist. This phenomenon is quite common for many birds. However, the checklist is designed to Of special interest are breeding populations of Bald indicate the general trend of migration and seasonal Eagles, Brown Pelicans, Roseate Spoonbills, Reddish abundance for each species and, therefore, does not Egrets, and Mottled Ducks. Spectacular migrations account for unusual occurrences. of passerine birds, especially warblers, occur during spring and fall. In winter tens of thousands of Abundance Designation waterfowl may be seen. Eight species of herons and C – Common - These birds are present in large egrets are commonly observed year-round. numbers, are widespread, and should be seen if you look in the correct habitat. Tips on Birding A good field guide and binoculars provide the basic U – Uncommon - These birds are present, but because tools useful in the observation and identification of of their low numbers, behavior, habitat, or distribution, birds. -
House Crow E V
No. 2/2008 nimal P A e l s a t n A o l i e t 1800 084 881 r a t N Animal Pest Alert F reecall House Crow E V I The House Crow (Corvus splendens) T is also known as the Indian, Grey- A necked, Ceylon or Colombo Crow. It is not native to Australia but has been transported here on numerous occasions on ships. The T N House Crow has signifi cant potential to establish O populations in Australia and become a pest, so it is important to report any found in the wild. NOTN NATIVE PHOTO: PETRI PIETILAINEN E Australian Raven V I T A N Adult Immature PHOTO: DUNCAN ASHER / ALAMY PHOTO: IAN MONTGOMERY Please report all sightings of House Crows – Freecall 1800 084 881 House Crow nimal P A e l s a t n A o l i e t 1800 084 881 r a Figure 1. The distribution of the House Crow including natural t N (blue) and introduced (red) populations. F reecall Description Distribution The House Crow is 42 to 44 cm in length (body and tail). It has The House Crow is well-known throughout much of its black plumage that appears glossy with a metallic greenish natural range. It occurs in central Asia from southern coastal blue-purple sheen on the forehead, crown, throat, back, Iran through Pakistan, India, Tibet, Myanmar and Thailand to wings and tail. In contrast, the nape, neck and lower breast southern China (Figure 1). It also occurs in Sri Lanka and on are paler in colour (grey tones) and not glossed (Figure 3). -
Predator and Competitor Management Plan for Monomoy National Wildlife Refuge
Appendix J /USFWS Malcolm Grant 2011 Fencing exclosure to protect shorebirds from predators Predator and Competitor Management Plan for Monomoy National Wildlife Refuge Background and Introduction Background and Introduction Throughout North America, the presence of a single mammalian predator (e.g., coyote, skunk, and raccoon) or avian predator (e.g., great horned owl, black-crowned night-heron) at a nesting site can result in adult bird mortality, decrease or prevent reproductive success of nesting birds, or cause birds to abandon a nesting site entirely (Butchko and Small 1992, Kress and Hall 2004, Hall and Kress 2008, Nisbet and Welton 1984, USDA 2011). Depredation events and competition with other species for nesting space in one year can also limit the distribution and abundance of breeding birds in following years (USDA 2011, Nisbet 1975). Predator and competitor management on Monomoy refuge is essential to promoting and protecting rare and endangered beach nesting birds at this site, and has been incorporated into annual management plans for several decades. In 2000, the Service extended the Monomoy National Wildlife Refuge Nesting Season Operating Procedure, Monitoring Protocols, and Competitor/Predator Management Plan, 1998-2000, which was expiring, with the intent to revise and update the plan as part of the CCP process. This appendix fulfills that intent. As presented in chapter 3, all proposed alternatives include an active and adaptive predator and competitor management program, but our preferred alternative is most inclusive and will provide the greatest level of protection and benefit for all species of conservation concern. The option to discontinue the management program was considered but eliminated due to the affirmative responsibility the Service has to protect federally listed threatened and endangered species and migratory birds. -
A Soft Spot for Crows by David Shaw
Read this article. Then answer the questions that follow. A Soft Spot for Crows by David Shaw 1 Crows are probably the most ignored bird species in North America. They are often fiewed as pests, or at the very least as untrustworthy. Even the term for a group of crows, a "murder," hardly creates positive associations. Yet these birds are everywhere. They are as common, and perhaps as despised, as pigeons. But there a lot more to the crow family than most people think. It Runs in the Family 2 The United States has four resident species of crows. The most abundant and widespread is the American crow, which lives across most of the lower 48 and southern Canada. 3 The slightly smaller northwestern crow has a nasal voice and occurs only along the coasts of the Pacific Northwest from Puget Sound to south central Alaska. 4 The fish crow is similar in size and voice to the northwestern crow but lives on the Atlantic coast and in the lower Mississippi River region. 5 And finally there is the Hawaiian crow, which, as the name implies, occurs only in Hawaii, and there only in a small area of forest. (A fifth species, the tamaulipas, dwells in northern Mexico and is sometimes seen in Texas' lower Rio Grande valley. But it doesn't appear to breed north of the border, so it's not considered a true U.S. resident.) 6 I don't remember my first sighting of a crow, though I suspect I was very young. Even after I'd developed as a birder, I'm still not sure when I first put that tick on my list. -
The Vocal Behavior of the American Crow, Corvus Brachyrhynchos
THE VOCAL BEHAVIOR OF THE AMERICAN CROW, CORVUS BRACHYRHYNCHOS THESIS Presented in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree Master of Sciences in the Graduate School of The Ohio State University By Robin Tarter, B.S. ***** The Ohio State University 2008 Masters Examination Committee Approved by Dr. Douglas Nelson, Advisor Dr. Mitch Masters _________________________________ Dr. Jill Soha Advisor Evolution, Ecology and Organismal Biology Graduate Program ABSTRACT The objective of this study was to provide an overview of the vocal behavior of the American crow, Corvus brachyrhynchos, and to thereby address questions about the evolutionary significance of crow behavior. I recorded the calls of 71 birds of known sex and age in a family context. Sorting calls by their acoustic characteristics and behavioral contexts, I identified and hypothesized functions for 7 adult and 2 juvenile call types, and in several cases found preferential use of a call type by birds of a particular sex or breeding status. My findings enrich our understanding of crow social behavior. I found that helpers and breeders played different roles in foraging and in protecting family territories from other crows and from predators. My findings may also be useful for human management of crow populations, particularly dispersal attempts using playbacks of crows’ own vocalizations. ii ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS I would like to thank Dr. Kevin McGowan of Cornell, Dr. Anne Clark of Binghamton University, and Binghamton graduate student Rebecca Heiss for allowing me to work with their study animals. McGowan, Clark and Heiss shared their data with me, along with huge amounts of information and insight about crow behavior. -
OWLS of OHIO C D G U I D E B O O K DIVISION of WILDLIFE Introduction O W L S O F O H I O
OWLS OF OHIO c d g u i d e b o o k DIVISION OF WILDLIFE Introduction O W L S O F O H I O Owls have longowls evoked curiosity in In the winter of of 2002, a snowy ohio owl and stygian owl are known from one people, due to their secretive and often frequented an area near Wilmington and two Texas records, respectively. nocturnal habits, fierce predatory in Clinton County, and became quite Another, the Oriental scops-owl, is behavior, and interesting appearance. a celebrity. She was visited by scores of known from two Alaska records). On Many people might be surprised by people – many whom had never seen a global scale, there are 27 genera of how common owls are; it just takes a one of these Arctic visitors – and was owls in two families, comprising a total bit of knowledge and searching to find featured in many newspapers and TV of 215 species. them. The effort is worthwhile, as news shows. A massive invasion of In Ohio and abroad, there is great owls are among our most fascinating northern owls – boreal, great gray, and variation among owls. The largest birds, both to watch and to hear. Owls Northern hawk owl – into Minnesota species in the world is the great gray are also among our most charismatic during the winter of 2004-05 became owl of North America. It is nearly three birds, and reading about species with a major source of ecotourism for the feet long with a wingspan of almost 4 names like fearful owl, barking owl, North Star State. -
U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service Merritt Island CHECKLIST
SP SU FA WN STATUS SP SU FA WN STATUS SP SU FA WN STATUS SP SU FA WN STATUS SP SU FA WN STATUS U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service Gulls, Terns, and Skimmers Nightjars (Goatsuckers) Larks Nashville Warbler R R Dark-eyed Junco 1977 Black-legged Kittiwake R R Common Nighthawk * C C U Horned Lark 1994 Northern Parula * C U C R Lapland Longspur 1988 Merritt Island Sabine's Gull 2009 Chuck-will's-widow * C C O Yellow Warbler U U R Snow Bunting 1999 National Wildlife Refuge Swallows and Martins Bonaparte's Gull 0 U U Whip-poor-will R R Chestnut-sided Warbler O 0 Titusville, Florida Purple Martin * U U R Black-headed Gull 2008 Magnolia Warbler 0 0 Cardinals, Grosbeaks, Buntings, and Allies Swifts Tree Swallow C R C C Laughing Gull* C C C C Cape May Warbler U O Summer Tanager OOO Chimney Swift U U U Northern Rough-winged Swallow U R U Franklin's Gull 2003 Black-throated Blue Warbler U U Scarlet Tanager O O Bank Swallow O O Northern Cardinal * C C C C Ring-billed Gull C R C C Hummingbirds Yellow-rumped Warbler C C C Herring Gull U R U U Ruby-throated Hummingbird U U U R Cliff Swallow O O Black-throated Green Warbler O OO Rose-breasted Grosbeak O O Lesser Black-backed Gull U U U Barn Swallow C 0 C Townsend's Warbler 2002 Blue Grosbeak * OOO Kingfishers Indigo Bunting* U U U Glaucous Gull 1991 Chickadees and Titmice Blackbumian Warbler O O Great Black-backed Gull U 0 U U Belted Kingfisher* C R C C Yellow-throated Warbler U U U Painted Bunting * U O U U Carolina Chickadee 1976 Dickcissel R R R Brown Noddy R R Woodpeckers and Allies Tufted Titmouse * U U -
Hellmayr's 'Catalogue of Birds of the Americas'
Vol.1935 LII] J RecentLiterature. 105 RECENT LITERATURE. Hellmayr's 'Catalogue of Birds of the Americas.'--The long awaitedseventh part of this notable work• has appeared, covering the families Corvidae to Sylviidae in almostthe orderof the A. O. U. 'Check-List,'with the neotropicalfamily Zeledo- niidae betweenthe Turdidae and Sylviidae. The volume follows exactly the style of its predecessors,with the same abundanceof foot notes discussingcharacters and relationshipsof many of the forms, and will, we are sure, prove of the sameimpor- tance to systematic studentsof the avifauna of the Americas. It brings the subject up to July 1, 1932. It is impossiblein the space at our disposalto discussall of the innovations in systematic arrangement and in nomenclaturewhich are presentedby Dr. Hel]mayr in these pages and we shall have •o be content, for the most part, with a comparison of his findingsin regard to North American Birds with those of the A. O. U. reittee, as expressedin the fourth edition of the 'Check-List.' The author is very conservativein his treatment of genera six of those recognized in the 'Check-List' beingmerged with others--Penthestesand Baeolophuswith Parus; Telmatodyteswith Cistothorus;Nahnus with Troglodyles;Arceuthornis with Turdus; Corthyliowith Regulus--going back in every case but one to the treatment of the first edition of the 'Check-List,' in 1886, so doesthe pendulumswing from one ex- treme to the other and back again! Generic division is largely a matter of personal opinion and while there is much to be said in favor of someof Dr. Hellmayr's actions it seemsa pity that two well-markedgroups like the Long- and Short-billed Marsh Wrens should have to be merged simply becauseof the discovery of a more or less intermediate speciesin South America. -
American Crow Corvus Brachyrhynchos
American crow Corvus brachyrhynchos Kingdom: Animalia FEATURES Phylum: Chordata The American crow is a large bird (17 to 21 inches) Class: Aves with a large, strong bill. Its nostrils are covered by Order: Passeriformes bristles. Both the male and the female are entirely black in color. Family: Corvidae ILLINOIS STATUS BEHAVIORS common, native The American crow is a common, statewide, permanent resident of Illinois. Some crows do © U.S. Army Corps of Engineers migrate, and those that migrate start spring migration in February or March. Nesting season occurs during the period March through May with one brood raised per year. The nest is built of sticks, bark and vines and lined with bark, mosses, grasses, feathers and other materials. It is placed in the crotch of a tree or near the tree trunk on a horizontal branch, from 10 to 70 feet above the ground. Both the male and the female construct the nest in a process that takes nearly two weeks. The female lays two to seven green-blue to pale-blue eggs that are marked with darker colors. The incubation period lasts for 18 days, and both male and female share incubation duties. Fall migration includes mainly crows moving into Illinois from more northerly states and northern Illinois crows moving adult into central Illinois. The American crow makes a “caw” noise. It eats corn, sumac berries, poison ivy ILLINOIS RANGE berries, insects, dead animals, eggs and nestlings of other birds and most anything edible. It lives in open or semi-open areas, woodland edges, woodlands, shores, river groves and farm fields.