18-4-2015 HAIFA, ISRAEL - HOODED CROW (Corvus cornix)

The Hooded crow (Corvus cornix) is a Eurasian bird species in the genus Corvus. Like other corvids, it is an omnivorous and opportunistic forager and feeder. The Hooded crow is so similar in morphology and habits to the Carrion crow that for many years they were considered by most authorities to be geographical races of one species.

Except for the head, throat, wings, tail, and thigh feathers, which are black and mostly glossy, the plumage of the Hooded crow is ash-grey, with the dark shafts giving it a streaky appearance. The bill and legs are black; the iris dark brown. Only one moult occurs, in autumn, as in other crow species. Male Hooded crows tend to be larger than females, although the two sexes are otherwise similar in appearance. Their flight is slow, heavy and usually straight. When first hatched, the young are much blacker than the parents. Juveniles have duller plumage with bluish or greyish eyes, and initially possess a red mouth.

Hooded crows are found across Northern, Eastern, and Southeastern Europe, as well as parts of the Middle East and Northeast Africa. Some birds are migratory and may move further south in winter. Hooded crows live in various habitats such as woodland edges, coastal cliffs, inshore islands, estuaries, moorland, cultivated areas, city parks, and gardens.

Hooded crows are social birds; they live in pairs ad may also feed in groups. They are active during the day spending most of the time searching for food. Hooded crows are known for their habit of hiding food, especially meat or nuts, in places such as rain gutters, flower pots, or in the earth under bushes, to feed on it later. Other crows often watch if another one hides food and then search this place later when the other crow has left.

Hooded crows are omnivores and scavengers. They feed on insects, berries, grain, mollusks, crabs, and carrion. On coastal cliffs, they often steal the eggs of gulls, cormorants, and other birds. Hooded crows may even enter the burrow of the puffin to steal eggs.