#Carrion crows free#

These isolated groups developed striking plumage differences, the grey-and-black Hoodie in the east, and the all-black Carrion in the west.

#Carrion crows free#

How is it felt that this distribution came about? During the last Ice Age, ending about 10,000 years ago, the European Crow population was forced to retreat to ice free areas in the Balkans and the Iberian Peninsula. In areas where the two species overlap there may be some interbreeding with hybrids showing a mixed grey and black body plumage. To the east, the Hooded Crow rules the roost, including Rome. To the west, the skies generally belong to the Carrion Crow. The map shows their distribution across Europe. Until recently, they were regarded as the same species.

The Hooded Crow with its black hood, throat and wings but grey body and the Carrion Crow, by contrast solid black in colour, are closely related. It is the familiar Carrion and Hooded Crows that are the focus for this article. While all have been recorded on Arran, only four breed here Raven, Jackdaw, Carrion Crow and Hooded Crow. Crows are medium to large birds many species are black or black and grey some are pied while others are more colourful.species breed in the UK. Their total brain-to-body mass ratio is equal to that of great apes. The crow family is cosmopolitan They are considered to be the most intelligent of the birds. Some time ago on a visit to Rome, I noticed that the crow in the city was the crow that I associated with the wild moors and hills of Arran.