Crow, Northwestern

Physical Features

Northwestern Crows are large, shiny, black birds with long, solid bills. They can be distinguished from Common Ravens by their smaller size, straight or slightly rounded tails, and higher-pitched voices. Ravens also have more massive bills and longer, shaggier feathers at their throats. Northwestern Crows are smaller than the closely related American Crows and have lower, huskier voices. Northwestern Crows have an average body length between 33-41cm. Many authorities believe that the Northwestern Crow is not a true species, but a subspecies of the American Crow. They can only be reliably identified by their range.

Habitat

Northwestern Crows are typically associated with tidal areas. They are generally found in semi-open habitats such as rocky beaches, forested shorelines, tidal estuaries, and coastal ponds, around seabird colonies and garbage dumps, and in towns, cities, and campgrounds. They often nest near intertidal flats. They are native to the northwest of North America and frequent coastal regions and offshore islands of southern Alaska, south through British Columbia to Washington State. Northwestern Crows are not migratory birds.

Diet

They are omnivores and since they live in coastal areas, much of their diet consists of aquatic creatures, shellfish, fish, seabird eggs, and various aquatic invertebrates. They are even know to catch snakes and also feed on carrion and garbage. They like to forage off the ground for fruit and seeds.

Meat

Northwestern Crows have a dark colored meat with a gamey smell and flavor with a slightly fishy taste as a result of their marine diet.

Behavior

In winter, Northwestern Crows of all ages roost together in a complex hierarchical system. Flocks communicate through a variety of signals and sounds, gathering quickly to mob predators. Northwestern Crows are monogamous and form long-term pair bonds. Yearlings often remain with the pair to help feed the nestlings. Both members of the pair help build the nest, which is a bulky, stick platform, lined with mud, moss, grass, roots, and cedar bark. The nest is usually made in the canopy of a tree, but can also be in a shrub or on the ground. The female incubates 3-6 eggs for 17-20 days. The female broods the young constantly for about four days, and then helps the male and yearlings bring food. The young start venturing out of their nest onto nearby branches after 26-33 days, and they begin to fledge roughly three days later. The young stay on the parents' territory for another couple of weeks, and are fed by the parents for a few weeks before becoming independent. A common call of the Northwestern Crow is a harsh, nasal 'khaaa.'

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