The Fish crow (Corvus ossifragus) is a species of crow that lives in wetland habitats in the eastern and southeastern United States. It was given its binomial name by the Scottish ornithologist Alexander Wilson in 1812. The common name of this bird also derives from Wilson, who ascribed the name to the crow's aquatic diet, as described to him by local fishermen.
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DiurnalDiurnal animals are active during the daytime, with a period of sleeping or other inactivity at night. The timing of activity by an animal depends ...
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OmnivoreAn omnivore is an animal that has the ability to eat and survive on both plant and animal matter. Obtaining energy and nutrients from plant and ani...
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ArborealArboreal locomotion is the locomotion of animals in trees. In habitats in which trees are present, animals have evolved to move in them. Some anima...
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ZoochoryZoochory animals are those that can disperse plant seeds in several ways. Seeds can be transported on the outside of vertebrate animals (mostly mam...
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GlidingGliding flight is heavier-than-air flight without the use of thrust and is employed by gliding animals. Birds in particular use gliding flight to m...
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TerrestrialTerrestrial animals are animals that live predominantly or entirely on land (e.g., cats, ants, snails), as compared with aquatic animals, which liv...
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TerritorialA territory is a sociographical area that which an animal consistently defends against the conspecific competition (or, occasionally, against anima...
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OviparousOviparous animals are female animals that lay their eggs, with little or no other embryonic development within the mother. This is the reproductive...
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AltricialAltricial animals are those species whose newly hatched or born young are relatively immobile. They lack hair or down, are not able to obtain food ...
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MonogamyMonogamy is a form of relationship in which both the male and the female has only one partner. This pair may cohabitate in an area or territory for...
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FlockingFlocking birds are those that tend to gather to forage or travel collectively. Avian flocks are typically associated with migration. Flocking also ...
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starts withThe Fish crow is superficially similar to the American crow, but is smaller and has a silkier, smoother plumage by comparison. The upperparts have a blue or blue-green sheen, while the underparts have a more greenish tint to the black. The eyes are dark brown. The differences are often only really apparent between the two species when seen side by side or when heard calling. The bill is usually somewhat slimmer than the American crow but is only readily distinguishable if both species are seen together. Visual differentiation from the American crow 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 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.
Fish crows are found on the eastern seaboard of the United States from Rhode Island south to Key West, and west along the northern coastline of the Gulf of Mexico. They inhabit coastal marshes and beaches, rivers, inland lakes, marshes, and river banks. Since 2012, Fish crows have rapidly expanded into Canada, with breeding populations along Lake Ontario. Fish crows are not true migratory birds but they travel further inland during warmer seasons and return to the shores during colder seasons.
Fish crows are gregarious but during the breeding season, they become territorial. They forage in flocks and in winter may gather in flocks that contain hundreds to thousands of crows. They feed during the day taking food mainly from the ground or shallow water where they hover and pluck food items out of the water with their feet. They are intelligent and curious. The call of Fish crows has been described as a nasal 'ark-ark-ark' or a begging 'waw-waw'. They also have a single call sounding like 'cahrrr'.
Fish crows are omnivorous. They feed on small crustaceans, such as crabs and shrimps, other invertebrates, stranded fish, and live fish if the situation favors their capture, eggs, and nestlings of birds, small reptiles, the fruits of many trees, peanuts, and grains, as well as human scraps where available and carrion.
Fish crows are monogamous and form pairs. They breed from late March to mid-June and raise only one brood per season. The nest is usually built high in a tree and is often accompanied in nearby trees with other nests of Fish crows forming small, loose colonies. Usually, 4 or 5 eggs are laid. Pale blue-green in color, they bear blotches of olive-brown. Incubation lasts for 16-19 days. The chicks are altricial; they hatch blind and naked. They remain in the nest for 32-40 days and become independent a month after fledging. Young Fish crows usually become reproductively mature at about 15 months of age.
There are no major threats to this species at present.
The IUCN Red List and other sources don’t provide the number of the Fish crow total population size. Currently, this species is classified as Least Concern (LC) on the IUCN Red List, and its numbers today are increasing.
Social animals are those animals that interact highly with other animals, usually of their own species (conspecifics), to the point of having a rec...