corvid ID

[bedrock 16]

After having a read through the crow or rook? Post I noticed there was a lot of confusion with people identifying cetin bird species. So I hope this tread helps to clarify some of the confusion by look at and comparing some of the less distinguishable of the Corvid family.

 

lets start off by looking at the size of the birds and comparing them with each other

 

I must point out that the Raven is a protected species of bird and is just used as an example to compare size.

 

Now lets look at the features of the Carrion Crow.

 

The carrion crow is a large bird and can be as much 47cm high, It has a uniform sleek black plumage with a greenish or blue/purple gloss. The crow has a heavy dark brown bill and a square tail.

The juvenile carrion crow may have thinner lighter coloured bill with will get darker and thicker as the bird matures this is why the are often mistaken for juvenile rooks the key to identifying a juvenile crow is that it should the sleek tidy plumage of the mature Crow.

 

The Rook is a large Corvid with a characteristic bare white face patch. Loos plumage around the flanks gives it a shaggy trousers appearance. The feathers iridescent blue-purple or greenish gloss and they have a slender grey bill. Juvenile Rooks lack the bare face patch and have a darker bill this Is why they get mistaken for a carrion crow. But the way to identify them is to look at the feathers a juvenile Rook still has the Loos plumage around the flanks witch give it the shaggy appearance.

 

The Rook.

The juvanile Rook on the left

 

The Jackdaw is a small corvid with the characteristic dark grey nape , ear covers and underside. The rest of the plumage is black. They have a distinctive pale grey eye and a short bill. The Jackdaw is most commonly mistaken for the mutch larger crow.

 

 

I hope this helps people identify their quarry easer and helps with the confusion . atb bedrock

[v-max 2]

I was told recently that ravens are now legal to kill in Scotland on moors???. I only see ravens out the glens/hills in Scotland & i despize the hoodie/carrion or basicly all our corvids to honest.

[coursing_lad 45]

a very informative post , thanks for sharing ,

 

CL

[theinvisiblescarecrow 0]

Very good.

The young rook always confuses.

[bedrock 16]

Thanks for the replies lads atb bedrock

[bedrock 16]

I was told recently that ravens are now legal to kill in Scotland on moors???. I only see ravens out the glens/hills in Scotland & i despize the hoodie/carrion or basicly all our corvids to honest.

 

There’s more information on this here. http://www.scottishfield.co.uk/article/96-...g_the_craw.html

[the Verminator 0]

good guide there, useful for people who are unsure, how about making it a sticky, would be handy for people

[bosco 3]

very good lad good to c you took the time to explain nice one

[bedrock 16]

Thanks for the replies lads atb bedrock

[alimac 882]

I was told recently that ravens are now legal to kill in Scotland on moors???. I only see ravens out the glens/hills in Scotland & i despize the hoodie/carrion or basicly all our corvids to honest.

under license in the far north, for protecting lambs

[Prince_Jimmy 0]

For the info nice one mate