Geographical distribution: Corvus splendens is found everywhere in India.
Habit and habitat: It is the most common, most familiar, most intelligent and boldest bird, living on trees in towns, villages and gardens. It feeds on any thing from dead meat to any eatable left on the table, i.e.bread, butter, fruits and other preparations. Always around human habitat.
Comments:
1. Common house crow, called Koowa or Cag in Hindi.
2. Adult crow 32 to 42 cm in length.
3. Body divisible into head, neck, back, breast and abdomen. Head contains eyes and beak. Beak adapted for tearing and cutting.
4. Neck and breast are grey, but the backs plumage is glossy black.
5. Eyes are large and beak stout and elongated.
6. Tail feathers are elongated. Wing feathers folded dorsolaterally.
7. Feet adapted for perching, 3 toes in front and 1 behind.
8. Young naked and blind at hatching, require feeding and parental care eating rats and dead animals before becoming independent.
Special features : The house crow acts as an efficient municipal scavenger. It destroys locusts and other injurious insects but it also destroys the crop and fruits in orchards.
The house crow builds nests of sticks. They roost communally in large flocks. They are also a menace to the eggs and infants of other birds. Whenever any fellow crow dies, several crows assemble. It is very intelligent and danger avoiding bird.
Source:
1. Practical Zoology Vertebrates by S.S.Lal. 2. A Manual of Practical Zoology Chordates by Dr. P.S. Verma.
