# Hooded Crow (*Corvus cornix*) The Hooded Crow is a clever bird with a shiny black head and a gray body. They are known for their intelligence and can often be seen in parks and fields, looking for food. - **Category:** [Birds](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/bird) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 2/5 · Low - **Snaps:** 2 - **Habitat:** Urban areas - **Also known as:** Hooded Raven ![Hooded Crow](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Corvus_cornix_%2833515567265%29.jpg&width=800) Photo: Donald Hobern from Copenhagen, Denmark, CC BY 2.0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Corvus_cornix_%2833515567265%29.jpg) ## Appearance The Hooded Crow has a distinctive ash-grey body with a contrasting glossy black head, throat, wings, and tail. This two-toned plumage makes it easily identifiable and different from other all-black crow species. Its sturdy build and strong beak are also noticeable features. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Animalia - **Phylum:** Chordata - **Class:** Aves - **Order:** Passeriformes - **Family:** Corvidae - **Genus:** Corvus ## Interesting facts - Hooded Crows can recognize individual human faces and remember them for years! - Hooded Crows have regional 'dialects' in their calls, like different accents! - These smart birds have been seen dropping hard nuts from heights to break them open. - They sometimes 'cache' or hide surplus food for later, remembering where they buried it. ## Special abilities - **Clever Problem Solver:** Hooded Crows can figure out complex puzzles to access food because of their large brains, helping them survive in varied environments. - **Resourceful Tool User:** Hooded Crows have been observed using sticks or stones to get food, showing advanced cognitive abilities that help them forage. - **Adaptable Mimic:** Hooded Crows can imitate various sounds, including human speech and other animals, because of their flexible vocal cords, aiding communication. ## Measurements & details - **Length:** 45-50 cm - **Wingspan:** 90-105 cm - **Weight:** 0.4-0.6 kg - **Lifespan:** 10-15 years - **Speed:** 50 km/h - **Clutch Size:** 4-6 - **Incubation:** 18-20 days ## Diet & Feeding The Hooded Crow is a super adaptable eater, munching on almost anything it can find! - **Primary Foods:** insects, seeds, fruits, carrion, small mammals, bird eggs - **Foraging Method:** Foraging ## Ecological connections - **Eaten by:** [Common Buzzard](https://www.snappit.app/explore/common-buzzard) (*Buteo buteo*) — Buzzards sometimes prey on Hooded Crows, especially juveniles. - **Eats:** [House Mouse](https://www.snappit.app/explore/house-mouse) (*Mus musculus*) — Hooded Crows opportunistically hunt and eat small rodents. - **Hunts:** Mallard (*Anas platyrhynchos*) — Hooded Crows often predate on eggs and nestlings of waterfowl. - **Eaten by:** [Golden Eagle](https://www.snappit.app/explore/golden-eagle) (*Aquila chrysaetos*) — Adult Hooded Crows can be prey for large raptors like Golden Eagles. ## 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. - [Omnivorous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/omnivorous): This trait identifies organisms whose diet includes both plant and animal matter. - [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. - [Diurnal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/diurnal): Diurnal animals are primarily active during daylight hours, typically resting or sleeping at night. - [Urban Friendly](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/urban-friendly): This habitat trait indicates species that can coexist with humans in urban and suburban environments, utilizing man-made structures and green spaces. ## Collections - [Birds](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/birds) ## Safety **Danger:** 2/5 · Low Watch the Hooded Crow from a distance. They can be curious but may peck if they feel threatened. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify Hooded 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 Hooded Crow? 45-50 cm ### What is Hooded Crow's wingspan? 90-105 cm ### How much does Hooded Crow weigh? 0.4-0.6 kg ### How long does Hooded Crow live? 10-15 years ### How fast can Hooded Crow move? 50 km/h ### What does Hooded Crow eat? The Hooded Crow is a super adaptable eater, munching on almost anything it can find! ### Where is Hooded Crow usually found? Urban areas ## Where to spot - [Fota Wildlife Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/fota-wildlife-park) — Municipal District of Cobh, IE · Zoo - [Tempelhofer Feld Berlin](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/tempelhofer-feld-berlin) — Berlin, DE · Park ## 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: [Hooded Crow: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/hooded-crow)