Hooded Crow

Corvus cornix (Linnaeus, 1758)

		adult juvenile
2017-01-14 Shardara, Yuzhno Kazakhstanskaya obl. 2010-06-01 Pavlodar	© Andrey Vilyayev © Oleg Lyakhov

Distribution

In Kazakhstan the Hooded Crow nests in the northern half of the country both in the steppe forests and steppe lakes. In winter numerous Hooded Crows centered around the human settlements in the south of Kazakhstan. More detailed distribution in Kazakhstan, please see in Subspecies section.

Biology

Common resident (in northern regions) / winter visitor (in southern regions). Inhabits deciduous, mixed and coniferous forests, groves, shelterbelts, birch and pine forest-patches, bush thickets and reed beds in rivers, lakes and marshes; mostly on plains, low mountains and in Altai foothills up to 550 m. It free hybridizes with Carrion Crow, in 1958 on Markakol lake (1450 m) the hybrid birds were dominant, but since 1966 only Carrion Crow were recorded. During migration and wintering occurs in open lands, villages and towns, on dumps, stubble fields and also near farms. Spring migration begins in late February – early March, most birds (of northern populations probably) flies off from southern areas in March; last birds recorded at Chokpak Pass in late April – mid May. Occurs mostly in flocks of several dozen birds, gathering in thousands at roost sites. Appears in March at breeding sites. Breeds in separate pairs at 100-250 m one from another. Nest is located on tree (poplar, elm, pine, spruce, birch, asp) or bush (willow, tamarisk, Nitraria sp.) at height 0.5-15 m above the ground, or on the old reed heaps, geodesic towers, ruins of human construction in treeless county. Both partners repair old nest or build new one from the twigs and lined it with hair, some rags and pieces of paper. Clutch of 2-7, usually 5-6 eggs are laid from early April to end of May. Probably only female incubates about 17-19 days. Both parents feed juveniles which fledge at age 32-33 days, in late May – early July. Repeated breeding after loss of first clutch is common. Autumn wandering begins in late July to early August. Migration (of northern populations probably) begins in mid – end September, most birds appears in southern areas n October - November.

Subspecies

Corvus cornix cornix (Linnaeus, 1758) Description. Grey on the upperparts and underparts is somewhat darker than on scharpii. Distribution. Breeding in Volga-Ural territory, in south to northern coast of Caspian Sea. It also occurs in these parts on migration and in winter.

Corvus cornix sharpii (Oates, 1889) Description. Grey on the upperparts and underparts is somewhat lighter than in cornix. Distribution. Breeds in northern Kazakhstan from Ural valley eastward to Western Altai. The southern border passes through Bolshiye Barsuki, lower reaches of Turgay river, Aktau mount in Kazakh Uplands and middle Ayaguz river. On migration and in winter it occurs in southern half of Kazakhstan, remaining at Barsa-Kelmes island only in mild winters.

References

Gavrilov E. I., Gavrilov A. E. "The Birds of Kazakhstan". Almaty, 2005. Э.И.Гаврилов. "Фауна и распространение птиц Казахстана". Алматы, 1999. В.К.Рябицев. "Птицы Урала, Приуралья и Западной Сибири". Екатеринбург. Изд-во Уральского университета, 2000.