# Fish Crow (*Corvus ossifragus*) Fish Crows are clever birds that love to eat fish and other tasty treats. They have a shiny black color and a unique call that sounds like a croak. You can often find them near water, where they search for food. - **Category:** [Birds](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/bird) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Snaps:** 4 - **Habitat:** Coastal areas ![Fish Crow](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Fish_crow_in_Red_Hook_%2842712%29.jpg&width=800) Photo: Rhododendrites, CC BY-SA 4.0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Fish_crow_in_Red_Hook_%2842712%29.jpg) ## Appearance The Fish Crow is a sleek, entirely black bird with glossy plumage, dark eyes, and a slightly slender bill. It closely resembles the American Crow but is generally smaller. Its feathers often show a subtle purple-blue sheen in direct sunlight. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Animalia - **Phylum:** Chordata - **Class:** Aves - **Order:** Passeriformes - **Family:** Corvidae - **Genus:** Corvus ## Interesting facts - Fish Crows often gather in huge groups to roost for the night. - Some Fish Crows have been seen using bread crumbs as bait to catch fish! - Their distinct 'uh-uh' call sounds like they have a stuffy nose! - They can recognize and remember individual human faces! ## Special abilities - **Vocal Mimic:** Fish Crows can imitate calls of other birds, and even human speech, which helps them communicate and possibly avoid predators. - **Shell Smasher:** Fish Crows can drop hard-shelled foods, like clams or crabs, onto hard surfaces to break them open for a meal. - **Water Forager:** Fish Crows are excellent at finding and catching food in aquatic environments because of their keen eyesight and agility. ## Measurements & details - **Length:** 36-41 cm - **Wingspan:** 69-76 cm - **Weight:** 0.19-0.33 kg - **Lifespan:** 7-14 years - **Speed:** 70 km/h - **Clutch Size:** 3-5 - **Incubation:** 16-19 days ## Diet & Feeding These clever birds are omnivores, eating fish, insects, eggs, berries, and anything else they can find! - **Primary Foods:** Fish, Crustaceans, Insects, Bird eggs, Berries, Carrion - **Foraging Method:** Foraging ## Ecological connections - **Eaten by:** [Great Horned Owl](https://www.snappit.app/explore/great-horned-owl) (*Bubo virginianus*) — A primary nocturnal predator of adult Fish Crows. - **Eats:** [Blue Crab](https://www.snappit.app/explore/blue-crab) (*Callinectes sapidus*) — Fish Crows often forage for these crustaceans in shallow waters. - **Eats:** Live Oak (*Quercus virginiana*) — Fish Crows consume acorns and other seeds from these trees. - **Eats:** [Herring Gull](https://www.snappit.app/explore/herring-gull) (*Larus argentatus*) — Fish Crows will often steal eggs or chicks from gull nests. ## Traits - [Feathered](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/feathered): Feathered describes animals, primarily birds, possessing a covering of feathers. - [Social](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/social): Social animals live in organized groups, cooperating for survival benefits such as foraging, defense, and raising offspring. - [Scavenger](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/scavenger): Scavengers consume dead organic matter, helping to decompose carcasses and other waste in the ecosystem. - [Tool Use](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/tool-use): This trait describes organisms that manipulate external objects to achieve a specific goal. - [Coastal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/coastal): Coastal habitats are dynamic environments located along the interface between land and sea, influenced by tides, waves, and saltwater. - [Carnivorous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/carnivorous): This trait identifies organisms whose diet consists entirely or primarily of animal tissue. - [Diurnal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/diurnal): Diurnal animals are primarily active during daylight hours, typically resting or sleeping at night. ## Collections - [Birds](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/birds) ## Safety **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low Watch Fish Crows from a distance and don't feed them, as they can become too friendly. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify Fish Crow? Compare the silhouette, bill shape, tail length, wing bars and markings around the eyes. The same small brown bird at your feeder can look quite different in breeding plumage, winter plumage or its first year. Bird Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details. ### How long is Fish Crow? 36-41 cm ### What is Fish Crow's wingspan? 69-76 cm ### How much does Fish Crow weigh? 0.19-0.33 kg ### How long does Fish Crow live? 7-14 years ### How fast can Fish Crow move? 70 km/h ### What does Fish Crow eat? These clever birds are omnivores, eating fish, insects, eggs, berries, and anything else they can find! ### Where is Fish Crow usually found? Coastal areas ## Where to spot - [East Potomac Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/east-potomac-park) — District of Columbia, US · Park - [India Point Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/india-point-park) — Rhode Island, US · Nature Reserve - [Hartford Golf Club Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/hartford-golf-club-historic-district) — Connecticut, US · Historic District - [Little Hollywood Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/little-hollywood-historic-district) — Connecticut, US · Historic District - [McKee Botanical Garden](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/mckee-botanical-garden) — Florida, US · Botanical Garden - [The Green](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/the-green) — Delaware, US · Park [View all places to see Fish Crow](https://www.snappit.app/guides/where-to-see/fish-crow) ## More Birds - [Black-crowned Night Heron](https://www.snappit.app/explore/black-crowned-night-heron) (*Nycticorax nycticorax*) - [Anna's Hummingbird](https://www.snappit.app/explore/annas-hummingbird) (*Calypte anna*) - [Great Egret](https://www.snappit.app/explore/great-egret) (*Ardea alba*) - [Blue Jay](https://www.snappit.app/explore/blue-jay) (*Cyanocitta cristata*) --- Source: [Fish Crow: Characteristics, Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/fish-crow)