- Type: Chordata
- Class: Birds (Aves)
- Order: Passerines (Passeres)
- Suborder: Singers (Oscines)
- Family: Ravens (Codvidae)
Corvids are one of the most common and most interesting birds. Many people, unfortunately, are prejudiced against them. At the same time, people know very little about these birds; many, for example, do not even suspect that a raven and a crow are not a female and a male, but different species of birds. Corvids are one of the most intelligent birds, with a very high and complex level of higher nervous activity. “Whoever does not recognize the intelligence of animals, let him watch the crow longer,” wrote Bram.
The family unites over 100 species belonging to 20-32 genera, distributed almost everywhere, in the CIS - 14-16 species, from 8 genera. The largest genus, Corvus, includes 38 species. Some representatives are raven, crow, rook, jackdaw, magpie, jay, nutcracker, kuksha and others.
The appearance is quite characteristic - a peculiar “crow” appearance is inherent in all representatives of the family. If you look at them more closely, you will notice that these birds are distinguished by a surprisingly harmonious and proportional physique, without “excesses”.
Size - medium and large, weight - from 50 grams to 1.5 kg (raven). The body is dense, the head is large, the beak is large, somewhat curved along the ridge. The nostrils are covered with bristle-like feathers. Sexual dimorphism in color is not expressed, but males are larger than females, with a more massive beak. Corvids are omnivorous birds. They nest in separate pairs or colonies; pairs can persist for several years. The nests are massive, sometimes with a roof (magpie). There are from 2 to 7 eggs in a clutch. In some species, both the female and the male incubate; in others, only the female incubates. The incubation period is 16-22 days, the chicks are fed by both partners. The chicks fly out of the nest at the age of 3-5 weeks. For some time, the chicks stay with their parents, who feed them.
Once taken from the nest as chicks, corvids are easily tamed. They are rarely kept at home, mainly due to their large size, but at the same time they are the most interesting birds for home keeping. Complex and reasonable behavior, high ability to imitate human speech, practical omnivory - these are just some of the reasons why these birds are of interest as pets.
Many people, unfortunately, are prejudiced against corvids; many consider them unattractive, commonplace, and even harmful. Regarding the latter, only one thing can be said - there are no “harmful” species in nature, nature does not create anything superfluous, harmful, or unnecessary. And the concept of “harmful” and “useful” species was introduced by people to justify their own predatory instincts, barbaric and consumerist attitude towards nature. As for the first, this is only because you have never looked closely at them. Take a closer look at the common hooded crow - how beautiful and harmonious her build is, her discreet but beautiful formal outfit made from a combination of gray and black tones, how smart, cunning, and quick-witted she is... And the raven, the eternal hero of myths and legends, is a majestic, proud, beautiful, wise bird... And the magpie, with its bright black and white plumage with greenish and purple tints, is not inferior in beauty to tropical birds. In general, take a closer look at the corvids, and you cannot help but fall in love with them...
On this site you will find interesting and educational information about corvids. Site materials are constantly updated.
This family includes the largest representatives of the order of passerines.
Ravens are characterized by a dense build, strong legs, and a large conical beak, some slightly curved. The wing is rounded or sharp. The plumage is black or variegated, many with a metallic sheen. Sexual dimorphism is expressed only in size: males are larger than females.
The habitats of these birds are very diverse. They inhabit forests, mountains, deserts, cultural landscapes and human settlements. Most of them make small migrations in autumn and winter, and only a few are either sedentary or migratory, although they winter near the nesting area. A number of species are characterized by wintering near human habitation, while the rook, jackdaw, and crow form numerous winter aggregations in large cities.
Ravens nest both in individual pairs and in colonies. Nests are located in trees, bushes, hollows, on rocks, in crevices, human buildings, etc. There are from 3 to 9 eggs in a clutch. If the first clutch dies, the second one is laid.
Adult birds molt once a year, in our country between June and September. They feed on a variety of foods, animal and plant. Most species are omnivores.
Raven birds are distributed throughout the globe, with the exception of Antarctica, New Zealand and a number of islands. They number about 100 species belonging to 20 genera. In the USSR there are 10 genera with 14 species.
Crow(Corvus cox) is one of the largest representatives of the family, weighing from 0.8 to 1.5 kg. The color of its plumage, beak and legs is uniformly black. The feathers of the crop are elongated, lanceolate.
The raven is distributed throughout almost the entire northern hemisphere: it is found throughout almost all of Europe, Asia, excluding Southeast Asia, North Africa and North America. Everywhere he leads a sedentary lifestyle. Inhabits forests, deserts and mountains. In treeless areas it lives near rocks and coastal cliffs of river valleys.
Mating and courtship games in the south of the country are celebrated in the first half of February, in the north - in March. Pairs are constant. The male and female build a new nest or repair the old one. Nests are usually placed on the tops of tall trees.
As soon as the nest is ready, the female lays eggs when there is still a lot of snow around and there are severe frosts, which is observed in the south in the second half of February, later in the north. The clutch contains from 3 to 7, more often 4-6, eggs of a bluish-green color with dark markings. Incubation begins with the laying of the first, second or third egg and lasts 19-21 days. According to some sources, only the female incubates, according to others, both members of the pair.
In the northern regions of the country, chicks hatch between the second half of April and the first half of June. Both old birds feed them. The young fly out of the nest approximately in the first half of May in the south of the country and at different times in June in the north. After departure, the young birds stay with the old ones for a long time and leave the latter in the middle zone in late autumn, in the south - only in January.
Raven is an omnivorous bird. Its main food is carrion, which it most often finds in landfills and slaughterhouses. Eating carrion, it acts as a sanitary bird. It also feeds on rodents, eggs, chicks, fish, various invertebrate animals, and sometimes cereal grains.
In Africa there is a very beautiful white-bellied raven(C. scapulatus), the color of which combines black and white. Inhabits mountainous areas with rocks and cliffs. Here he watches herds of grazing animals and largely feeds on their corpses. It makes nests both in trees and on rocks. Sometimes it settles in gardens near human habitation, but, like the previous species, it is a cautious bird.
Crow(S. sogope) in general physique resembles a crow, but is much smaller: it weighs from 460 to 690 g.
The described species is interesting in that, according to the color of its plumage, it falls into two groups: gray and black. The hooded crow has the well-known two-tone coloration: the head, throat, wings, tail, beak and legs are black, the rest of the plumage is gray. The Carrion Crow is all black with a metallic blue and purple sheen.
Each of these groups has a local distribution. The hooded crow is widespread in Europe, the United Arab Republic and Western Asia, the black crow is widespread in Central and Western Europe, on the one hand, in Central, East Asia and North America, on the other. In border areas there are mixed settlements and hybrids. In our country, hybrid populations are found in the steppes of Kazakhstan, in the Zaisan region, in the Balkhash region and along the Yenisei.
The crow inhabits the edges and outskirts of forests, gardens, groves, thickets of river valleys, and less often rocks and slopes of coastal cliffs. It is partly sedentary and partly migratory. It is found in temperate latitudes all year round, but, as ringing showed, these are not the same individuals. From the nesting area, some birds, mainly young ones, fly to the south, and in their place birds arrive from more northern places.
Birds spend the winter near human habitation, where they can more easily feed themselves in landfills and garbage dumps with various waste and garbage. They accumulate in especially large numbers in large cities, where they form mixed populations with rooks and jackdaws. As a rule, they spend the night in the city center - in parks and on the roofs of buildings, and during the day they fly out to feed on the outskirts of the city and its environs.
The crow starts nesting early. At first, the arriving birds stay near human habitation, but with the appearance of the first thawed patches they begin to gradually move away to their nesting sites. Here they soon begin building new or repairing old nests. A building is constructed from dry tree branches, and in the steppe - from reed stalks and lined with wool, grass, rags, feathers, etc. The nest is built by a male and a female.
At the beginning of March in the southern parts of the country, at the end of this month and in April - May in the northern and eastern parts, egg laying begins. The clutch usually contains 4-5 eggs of pale green, bluish-green or pure green color with dark spots and specks. The female incubates mainly for 17-20 days. According to some sources, incubation begins from the laying of the first egg, according to others - from the middle of the clutch.
In the first days after hatching, only the male brings food to the chicks; later, the female also begins to fly for food. At approximately the age of 4 weeks, the chicks leave the nest, and at the age of 5 weeks they become fully flightable.
After leaving the nests, the young stay close to the nest and are supplemented by their parents. With the acquisition of the ability to fly well, the birds stay in families in meadows, fields, floodplains of rivers and return to nesting sites only for the night. In July, families break up and birds switch to a wandering lifestyle. In September - October, some crows fly south, while others gradually approach human habitation, where they settle for the whole winter.
The crow is an omnivorous bird. Among animals, it eats various invertebrates - beetles, orthoptera, ants, mollusks, as well as rodents, chicks and eggs of various birds, lizards, frogs, fish, young animals poultry. From plants it pecks grains of cultivated cereals, seeds of spruce, field bindweed, bird buckwheat, etc. The composition of feed varies significantly with the seasons of the year. In winter it feeds mainly on garbage.
By eating mouse-like rodents and harmful insects, the crow brings undoubted benefits. It is also useful in that its old nests are widely used by many useful birds of prey that do not build their own nests. However, by destroying bird nests, eating eggs and chicks, in some places it causes harm, especially in hunting. In such places it is necessary to scare away and regulate the number of this bird.
Big-beaked crow(C. levaillantii) is similar in plumage color to the black crow, but differs from it in its voice, large massive beak and larger size. Weighs from 730 to 1100 g. In flight, the longer and sharply wedge-shaped tail is striking. Distributed in Sakhalin, the Kuril Islands and Japan. In biology it has many similarities with the previous species.
Rook(C. frugilegus) is about the size of a crow (weighs 310-490 g), but slimmer and has a straighter and thinner beak. Its plumage is black, with a metallic sheen. Unlike the black crow, the frenulum, chin, base of the beak and part of the cheeks are bare and whitish in color.
Widely distributed throughout Europe and Asia, excluding northern Eurasia, Central and Southern Asia and the south Western Europe. In the northern parts of the range it is a migratory rook, in the southern parts it is a sedentary and nomadic bird. Winters mainly in the southern parts of the breeding area or slightly leaving it. Like the crow, it is typical to spend the winter in cities, in large aggregations shared with crows and jackdaws.
It nests in colonies in gardens, parks and on groups of trees in human settlements or near them, as well as in groves, on the edges of forests and in riverine tugai forests. It feeds in fields, meadows, wastelands and other open spaces.
In spring, the rook arrives early, with the appearance of the first thawed patches, which in different parts of the range falls from February to April. It does not begin to reproduce immediately and leads a wandering lifestyle for a long time.
The nest is built from dry branches, lined with dry grass, sometimes with scraps of wool and thin branches. It has been used for a number of years and is repaired annually. The nesting colony is inhabited by rooks for many years, often for many decades.
Normally, there is one clutch of 3-5, less often 6-7, eggs per year, appearing on different dates in April. The eggs are green with brown spots scattered more at the blunt end. Incubation is carried out only by the female, starting with the laying of the first egg, and it lasts 16-20 days.
The chicks hatch naked, and the female almost never leaves the nest for a long time (up to about a week and a half). At this time, only the male carries food for the chicks. Later, the female also takes part in feeding the chicks. The chicks leave the nest at the age of about 30 days on various dates in May and in the first half of June.
After departure, the parents feed the young for some time. Later, the birds gather in large flocks, leave the nesting area and wander through fields and meadows, often together with jackdaws.
Autumn migration occurs in October - November. Birds inhabiting the northern half of the European part of the USSR winter in the south of Western Europe.
Rooks feed on various insects and their larvae, mouse-like rodents, grains and garden crops. The food diet is dominated by animal food, mainly insects, including such harmful ones as the cockchafer bug, the turtle bug, the black beetle, the spring cutworm, the meadow moth caterpillar, the beet weevil, etc. Accumulating in areas of mass reproduction of pests, rooks play significant role in eliminating these outbreaks. Along with this, in some places, rooks cause some harm, pecking out the seeds of grain and garden crops sown in the spring, and during the ripening period, the seeds of corn and sunflowers, damaging watermelons, melons and potato tubers. However, in general, the benefits of the rook outweigh the harm, and it should be considered an unconditionally useful bird.
Jackdaw(Coloeus monedula) is noticeably smaller in size than the rook and crow, weighs 130-225 g. The plumage is black, the neck is gray, and in the subspecies inhabiting Eastern Siberia, the underside is either grayish-black or whitish (Daurian jackdaw). The jackdaw is widespread in Europe, Asia, in addition to its north and south, in North-West Africa and Asia Minor.
Most often this bird can be found on stone buildings, bell towers, and water towers. Therefore, it is more common in cities and large towns than in small villages. It readily settles in gardens and parks with hollow trees, as well as outside cultivated areas - in the mountains and on the coastal cliffs of river valleys, in forests and tugai forests, in ruins. It is more numerous within the cultural landscape than outside it.
The jackdaw cannot be considered a true sedentary bird. In the European part of the country, some birds stay in the nesting area all year round, while the majority migrate to more southern areas. At the same time, birds from the northern regions fly to the middle zone, and those inhabiting the latter - to the southern regions. Regular flights are observed in Western Siberia, Altai and a number of other parts of the range.
Jackdaws do not begin breeding very early. Full clutches in the southern parts of the range are observed from the first half of April, in the northern parts - from mid-May and later.
Jackdaw nests are placed in a wide variety of places: under the eaves of houses, in cracks and voids of buildings, in chimneys, behind store signs, in tree hollows, in holes and crevices of banks and rocks, in voids between stones, etc., and sometimes in rook nests and roller burrows. The same nest is used for several years in a row. Nests are located in small groups of 2-3 or dozens. Both sexes take part in the construction of a new nest and the repair of an old one.
The clutch usually consists of 4-6, sometimes 7, bluish-green eggs with brownish spots concentrated at the blunt end. The female incubates for 18-20 days. Chicks appear on average from the end of April in the south, from the second half of May in the middle zone. Chicks fled at different latitudes from late May to late June - early July.
After departure, jackdaws migrate in broods. In the second half of summer, they gather in flocks of hundreds and often lead a nomadic lifestyle together with rooks. Autumn migration occurs in November. In winter, large flocks of jackdaws gather in large cities, which, together with crows, stay here until spring, flying in the mornings to the outskirts of the city and to the suburbs to feed, and in the evenings returning to the city to spend the night.
The feeding pattern of the jackdaw is similar to that of the rook. In her stomach they found beetles - leaf beetles, ground beetles, elephant beetles, darkling beetles, beetles, golden beetles, as well as dipterous insects. By exterminating harmful insects, it brings undoubted benefits to agriculture.
Magpie(Pica pica) is a well-known bird with a bright black and white coloring and a long stepped tail that takes on a fan-shaped appearance during flight. It is approximately the size of a jackdaw, weighs 160-260 g. The plumage is soft, thick, black with a white belly, white shoulders and white spots on the wings.
Distributed throughout Europe, Asia, excluding the north, Central Asia and India, North-West Africa and western regions North America. In most of its range, the magpie is a sedentary bird and only makes small local migrations in winter. However, in some places it makes significant movements from the northern regions to the south.
Settles in small forests near the edges, in groves, gardens, parks, bush thickets of river floodplains, along ravines, ravines, in the mountains, etc. Avoids extensive forest areas.
This bird lives in pairs, which remain in the winter. It begins nesting early, on different dates in March. The nest, in the construction or repair of which both members of the pair take part, is located in the dense branches of a bush or tree, often at a low height and is well hidden. It is a large and complex structure. Its outer part consists of relatively thick branches intertwined with grass stems and fastened with clay, and the inner part consists of thinner branches. The tray is deep and coated with clay on the inside. From above and from the sides it is covered with sparse branches, forming a high vault-like roof, as a result of which the entire nest has a spherical shape. The roof is sparse, but it protects eggs and chicks well from predators. The litter in the nest is made of moss, soft grass, roots and wool.
In the southern regions of the country in the first half of April, in the northern regions - in the first half of May, eggs appear in nests. The clutch often contains 5-8 greenish eggs of different shades with brownish specks. One female incubates, starting with the laying of the first egg, for 17-18 days. At this time, the male stays nearby, guards the nest and warns the female of danger.
The first days after the chicks hatch, the female continues to remain on the nest and only the male brings them food. Later the female joins him. The chicks remain in the nest for about 3 weeks. At the age of 22-27 days they begin to fly. The appearance of chicks in the middle zone occurs approximately in mid-May, the flight of young ones occurs in the first half of June. In Siberia, breeding periods are later and extremely extended.
After emergence, the young are first kept in broods. In autumn, magpies gather in small flocks and move closer to human settlements, preferring small villages and farmsteads. Here they spend the whole winter, feeding on various garbage. As spring approaches, the birds migrate back to the forests.
The magpie is an omnivorous bird. A large part of its food diet is occupied by insects, including such harmful ones as beetles, weevils, turtle bugs, sawflies, locusts, etc. It also feeds on mouse-like rodents, eggs and chicks of small and even game birds. Among plant foods, it eats grains of cultivated cereals, sunflower, watermelon, melon, and seeds of various weeds.
By destroying bird nests, dragging domestic chickens, and selecting sown watermelon seeds from the ground, magpies cause some harm. But it is small compared to the great benefits brought by exterminating pests Agriculture. In addition, its old nests, like crow's, are willingly occupied by some owls and falcons - destroyers of small rodents, and this helps the magpie attract them, in particular, to forest belts.
Blue Magpie(Cyanopica suapa) is similar in general appearance to the common one, but is much smaller (weighs 60-80 g) and more beautifully colored. The top of her head is black with a bluish or purple metallic sheen. The back, shoulders and rump are light gray or buffy-gray. The tail feathers, wing coverts and outer webs of the secondaries are blue. The throat is white, the rest of the underparts are whitish or light brownish-gray.
This magpie has a fragmented range. It is found in Southwestern Europe - on the Iberian Peninsula, then in East Asia - from Transbaikalia to Eastern China, Korea and Japan.
Inhabits deciduous forests and bushes along river valleys. It lives sedentary, but during non-breeding times it migrates in flocks, approaching human settlements in winter, including even cities. The blue magpie is a colonial breeding bird.
Blue magpies feed on various insects, berries and seeds of wild plants.
Inhabits the hilly regions of Eastern China Chinese azure magpie(Urocissa sinensis). It is brownish on top with a lilac-blue tint, the wings are dark blue, the head and throat are black, and the underside is light gray. It usually lives along wooded hillsides in large flocks.
In Asia, from the Northwestern Himalayas to Nepal, it is found red-billed magpie(U. occipitalis). It lives mainly in the foothills. Its head, neck and crop are black with a large white spot on the back of the head, the upper side is purple-blue. The wings are brown, the tail is blue with a wide white tip. The underside is white with a purple tint. Usually lives in small groups. Unlike real magpies, its nests are open, built at different heights from the ground from tree branches with a litter of thin roots. It feeds mainly on the ground.
In the Himalayas, Indochina and Malaysia lives a very beautiful green magpie(Cissa chinensis).
Jay(Garrulus glandarius) is a small bird, about the size of a jackdaw: its weight is 150-200 g.
The jay is easy to recognize by the general reddish coloring of the top and bottom, by the bright blue spots with a black rim on the wing (mirrors), black mustache, wing tips and tail, and by the whitish, or red, or black head, on which a crest is noticeable when alarmed .
This bird is distributed throughout almost all of Europe, North Africa, Asia Minor, the Caucasus, Northern Iran, the southern half of Siberia, Sakhalin, Korea, Manchuria, the northern part of Mongolia, China and Japan.
In most of its range it is nomadic, some birds are migratory in some places, and settled in the south. Inhabits coniferous, mixed and deciduous forests, preferring areas with well-defined undergrowth. In the south it also nests among shrubby vegetation. In Western European countries, jays now often nest in cities.
Jays begin breeding early. With the onset of the first spring days, they break up into pairs and soon begin building nests. The latter are built by a female and a male, often on the branches of young and middle-aged trees, at a height of 1.5-5 m; sometimes nest in tree hollows.
From late April - early May in the middle zone, somewhat later in the northern zone, 5-7, sometimes up to 10, eggs of a pale greenish or yellowish color with brown spots appear in the nests.
Both members of the pair incubate for 16-17 days, starting from the laying of the first egg. The chicks are also fed by both parents for 19-20 days. The emergence of chicks in the central part of the country begins around mid-June, in the south - at the beginning of this month. Broods stay with their parents until autumn, after which they break up.
The jay feeds on mixed food. Plant food- oak acorns, various berries - she consumes them mainly in autumn and especially in winter. From acorns it makes reserves for the winter, sometimes significant (up to 4 kg). The bird digs up some of the hidden acorns from under the snow, while some remain and germinate. In spring and summer, the jay feeds mainly on insects, including such harmful ones as the cockchafer, longhorned beetle, weevils, leaf beetles, silkworm caterpillars, etc. Among other animals, the jay, on occasion, eats small rodents, small birds and their eggs, lizards, frogs.
By destroying harmful insects and dispersing oak seeds, the jay benefits forestry. Damage from nest destruction small birds insignificant.
Kuksha, or ronzha(Cractes infaustus), slightly smaller in size than a jay, weighs 70-100 g. This is a very lively and active bird, flies easily and silently, while opening its tail like a fan.
The top of her body is olive-brown, the cap on her head is blackish-brown, the bottom is grayish-brown, and the tail is red.
Distributed throughout the taiga forests of Europe and Asia from the Scandinavian Peninsula to Anadyr, Sakhalin and Primorye. It settles mainly among spruce-fir and cedar-larch taiga, preferring remote areas of the forest. The kuksha leads a more or less sedentary lifestyle, making only relatively small migrations in the winter in search of food.
With the first glimpses of spring, birds return to their breeding grounds and soon begin building nests. The latter are located on trees at a height of 2 to 6 m. In April - May, clutches of 3-4 eggs of a greenish or dirty grayish-white color with dark streaks appear in them. Incubation begins with the laying of the first egg and lasts 16-17 days. In June - early July, young birds emerge. It feeds on both animal and plant foods.
Nutcracker or nutcracker(Nucifraga сaryocatactes), slightly smaller than a jackdaw (weighs 125-190 g) and with a thinner and long beak. It is colored in a dark brownish-brown color with white spots, which are absent only on the upper side of the head. There is a light border at the end of the tail. Being a typical forest bird, it deftly jumps along the branches of coniferous trees, and also hangs from cones hanging on spruce trees.
The nutcracker is a typical inhabitant of the taiga. Distributed in taiga forests of Europe and Asia from Scandinavia and the Alps to Kamchatka, the Kuril Islands, Primorye, Japan and China. Prefers spruce, cedar and stone pine forests.
In normal years, he leads a sedentary lifestyle, making only local migrations. In some years, it undertakes long-distance migrations beyond the breeding area.
The nutcracker begins to reproduce early: in the European part of the USSR, in the first half of March it already begins building a nest. By this time, she hides in the deepest thicket of the forest, where she leads a hidden lifestyle during the entire breeding season. The nest is usually placed on coniferous tree at a height of 4-6 m. In a clutch there are from 2 to 5, usually 3-4, eggs of a bluish-white or pale-white color with streaks.
The female incubates, starting with the laying of the first or second egg, for 16-18 days. The young leave the nest at the age of 21-28 days. Flying young are observed at different times in June.
An interesting biological feature of nutcrackers is the massive non-periodic migrations caused by food crop failure. In normal years, seasonal migrations are small and local in nature. When the pine nut harvest fails in some places, the birds move to others where there is a harvest. But in years when the pine nut crop failure coincides with the spruce seed crop failure and covers vast territories, nutcrackers fly further beyond the nesting area. This is especially true of Siberian birds. Over the past two centuries, over three dozen similar flights have been recorded, during which Siberian birds reached Kazakhstan, Ukraine, Crimea, the Baltic states and even Western Europe.
The main food of the nutcracker is the seeds of cedar pine, spruce and insects. In addition, it eats various berries, sometimes small birds and their eggs, amphibians and reptiles.
Another remarkable feature of this bird is the storage of food in the form of pine nuts for the winter. She makes storerooms on the ground under moss, lichens, in rocky places, under bark and in tree hollows. When storing food, the nutcracker collects nuts in a special pouch under its tongue. They found 50, 100 and even 120 pine nuts in it. Birds feed on hidden nuts in winter, making deep burrows in the snow, sometimes to a depth of 60 cm. Part of the larder is not used by birds, and the seeds germinate in them. Thus, the nutshell plays an important role in the dispersal of cedar pine. The regeneration of cedar pine in burnt areas occurs exclusively with the help of this bird. It is also useful in exterminating insects harmful to the forest.
Saxaul jay(Podoces panderi) is slightly larger than a thrush (weighs 86-96 g). In flight it resembles a small magpie or a great shrike. Stays more on the ground, runs quickly and deftly, flies poorly.
The color of the upper side of the body is light gray, the lower side is a pale wine-pink tone, the spots on the wing and throat are white, the bridle, the spot on the crop and the tail are black.
The saxaul jay is widespread in the western deserts of Central Asia and, in addition, in an isolated area south of Lake Balkhash.
Its typical habitat is shrub desert. She especially loves ridge and dune sands with shrub vegetation. Avoids real saxaul forests. This is a sedentary bird, during non-breeding times it makes only minor migrations.
Its breeding season is quite extended: clutches occur in March and May. The clutch usually consists of 4-5 eggs, often pale bluish in color with a greenish admixture and dark spots. Only the female incubates, starting with the laying of the first egg, for 19 days. Both parents feed the chicks. The young stay with their parents until they are completely grown up.
The saxaul jay feeds on various insects, spiders, scorpions, as well as seeds of desert shrubs. In addition, it eats small lizards. When there is an abundance of food, the jay makes reserves, burying them in the sand, putting them in saxaul cracks or hiding them at the base of bushes.
The closest relative of the described species is found in Xinjiang, Tsaidam, Gansu and Mongolia - Mongolian desert jay(P. hendersoni). It is slightly larger than the saxaul jay and is distinguished by a black cap on its head. Inhabits rocky, saline and sandy deserts with shrub vegetation. The nests are located on the ground under the cover of bushes. The nature of nutrition is similar to the previous species.
Klushitsa(Pyrrhocorax pyrrhocorax) is the size of a jackdaw, weighs 270-370 g. The tail is slightly longer, the wings are narrower than those of the jackdaw. Easily recognized by its shiny black plumage and bright red, slightly curved, long, thin beak. A very agile bird with easy and fast flight.
Distributed throughout the mountain ranges of Central and Southern Europe, Northwestern and Eastern Africa, Asia Minor, Western Asia, Central and Eastern Asia. resident bird, making small vertical movements in winter. Inhabits the alpine zone of the mountains, nesting in small colonies on rocks and cliffs. It feeds on insects, worms and other invertebrates, as well as seeds of various plants.
Alpine jackdaw(P. graculus) in general appearance and habits resembles the chough, but is somewhat smaller (weighs 260-280 g). It is also black, but the beak is yellow and shorter.
Distributed in the mountains of Southern Europe, the Caucasus, Northern Iran, Central Asia, Altai, Tibet and the Himalayas.
Resident bird. Inhabits the alpine zone of the mountains, but adheres to higher mountain areas. Breeds in colonies. It makes nests in hard-to-reach rocks and on cliffs. It feeds on insects and partly berries.
In plumage color black-backed crow(Gymnorhina tibicen) combine, like the magpie, black and white colors. The crown, back and underside are black, the back of the head, wing coverts and tail are white. Distributed in Australia. The favorite habitats of this crow are open plains with groves scattered across them. Willingly stays near human dwellings.
The breeding season begins in August and ends in January. The nest is round in shape, constructed from dry branches mixed with leaves. The tray is lined with soft material. Clutch of 3-4 bluish eggs with streaks. During the summer, each pair manages to hatch chicks twice. The black-backed crow feeds on various insects.
Found in Tasmania crow organist(G. organica), named for the organ-like nature of its whistle. She is well tamed and in captivity learns to whistle different tunes and speak.
Common in the mountainous parts of Southern and Eastern Australia strutidea(Struthidea cinerea). It is distinguished by a short, strongly curved beak and very modest plumage. The predominant color of the plumage is gray and gray below, the wings are brown, and the tail is black. The nest is made on horizontal branches made of clay, with a thick lining of soft grass. The clutch contains 4 white eggs with reddish-brown and gray streaks. It feeds mainly on insects.
Biological encyclopedic dictionary
- (Passeriformes) order of birds. Includes more than 5 thousand species; There are about 310 species in the USSR. B. birds are mainly small and medium-sized; body length varies from 9.5 cm (crown (See Kinglets)) to 65 cm (raven). Distributed all over the world... ... Great Soviet Encyclopedia
Corvids Crows ... Wikipedia
Taxonomy of the family Raven, or corvids:
Genus: Aphelocoma Cabanis, 1851 = Scrub Jays
Genus: Calocitta G.R.Gray, 1841 =
Genus: Cissa Boie, 1826 = Azure Magpie
Genus: Coloeus Kaup = Jackdaws
Genus: Corvus Linnaeus, 1758 = Crows
Species: Corvus cornix Linnaeus, 1758 = Hoodie Crow
Species: Corvus corax Linnaeus, 1758 = (Common) raven
Species: Corvus corone Linnaeus, 1758 = Carrion Crow
Species: Corvus frugilegus Linnaeus, 1758 = Rook
Species: Corvus monedula Linnaeus, 1758 = Jackdaw
Species: Corvus levaillantii Lesson, 1831 = Large-billed crow
Genus: Cractes = Kukshi
Genus: Cyanocitta = Blue jays
Species: Cyanocitta cristata = North American blue jay
Genus: Cyanopica Bonaparte, 1850 = Blue Magpie
Species: Cyanopica cyana = Blue Magpie
Genus: Garulus Brisson, 1760 = Jays
Species: Garulus glandarius = Jay
Genus: Nucifraga Brisson, 1760 = Kedrovka
Species: Nucifraga caryocatactes = Nutcracker
Genus: Perisoreus Bonaparte, 1831 = Kukshi
Species: Cractes infaustus = Suksha
Genus: Pica Brisson, 1760 = Magpie
Species: Pica pica = Magpie
Genus: Platylophus Swainson, 1832 = Crested jays
Genus: Platysmurus Reichenbach, 1850 =
Genus: Podoces J.G.Fischer, 1821 = Saxaul jays
Species: Podoces panderi = Saxaul jay
Genus: Pseudopodoces Zarudny et Loudon, 1902 = Pseudopodoces
Genus: Psilorhinus = Brown jays
Genus: Pyrrhocorax Tunstall, 1771 = Chough
Species: Pyrrhocorax pyrrhocorax = Chough
and other kinds
Brief description of the family
Ravens vary greatly in size(their representatives in our fauna have a wing 100 mm long, a metatarsus 25 mm long), diverse in appearance, widespread birds. They inhabit a wide variety of landscapes (tundra, steppes, deserts, mountains, human settlements), but most species are confined to forest habitats. Family widespread almost throughout the globe, except for Antarctica, some Arctic regions, southern South America, central Australia and parts of the oceanic islands; acclimatized in New Zealand (subfossil remains of ravens were found here). They live in various habitats - on sea coasts, in forests, mountains, near human settlements and in deserts.
Usually large-headed, large-billed, densely built birds. The beak is strong, rather long, straight or slightly curved, often with a convex ridge of the beak. The nostrils are covered with thick bristle-like feathers (with the exception of adult rooks). Legs are strong. The metatarsus in front is covered with large and well-separated shields or a continuous plate; the back of the metatarsus is covered with a continuous plate. The number of tail feathers is twelve. There are 10 primary flight feathers. The wing in many species is short and wide, in some it is elongated, with a pointed apex. The tail varies in length, straight or stepped, with 12 tails. The plumage is dense, in some species it is loose. Coloring black, black and white, gray, brownish, sometimes with areas of blue. Metallic reflection is often well developed. Age and sex differences among ravens are insignificant. Males are larger than females. Young ones in duller feathers.
Shedding in ravens it occurs once a year, in our forms - at the end of summer or autumn (however, in jackdaws and jays earlier, in mid-summer). In crows, molting extends over a long period. The young replace the small feathers in the first autumn of their lives, soon after leaving the nest; the nest feather is loose and duller in color.
Egg laying is usually in early spring. Large species (crows) in the north lay eggs even when the snow has not melted; The taiga-specific juks and nutcrackers also nest early. Crows nest in March - April, and in some places even in February; jays somewhat later, until May; desert jays, found in central Asia, in February - March. nesting single pairs, some species in groups or true colonies. In some species, pairs remain for a long time, sometimes until the death of one of the partners. Nests are in trees, in bushes, reed thickets, on rocks, in cracks and gullies in cliffs, in hollows, in buildings. Nest massive, made of branches, with soft lining; Some species have nests with a roof and a side entrance. The number of eggs in a clutch in large species (ravens and crows) is 3-6, in jays 5-7, in magpies 6-8; in choughs and alpine jackdaws, as well as in desert jays, 4-5; in nutcrackers and jaybirds, which nest early, when the feeding conditions for hatching chicks are not very favorable, the number of eggs in the clutch is the smallest among our representatives of ravens: 3-4 eggs. The usual color of eggs is variegated, with a greenish or bluish background. Incubation 16-22 days. In some species, both partners alternately incubate; in others, the female incubates primarily, and the male feeds her, only occasionally replacing her on the nest. Both partners feed the chicks. Chicks They fly out 3-5 weeks after hatching. Outside the breeding season, they live in groups or flocks; few species live alone. Sedentary, nomadic, and less frequently true migratory birds. The vast majority of species are omnivores: eat a wide variety of animal and plant foods, carrion, etc. Many large species behave like real predators, attacking relatively large animals. They feed in the crowns of trees and on the ground.
Ravens - cautious and active birds. Most forms are nomadic, some are sedentary, and a few are true migratory birds. However, even among the latter, wintering places lie relatively close to the nesting area. Nutcrackers are characterized by periodic mass evictions from the nesting area, coinciding with pine seed crop failures.
Ravens are one of the groups of birds with the highest and most complex level of higher nervous activity. Therefore, they adapt relatively easily to a variety of living conditions; in particular, many species have successfully colonized cultural landscapes. Voice- croaking, loud whistling cries, etc. Some species are capable of onomatopoeia, even to the point of imitating the human voice.
The largest species are energetic predators that destroy small ones.
Ravens or corvids are a family of birds from the passerine order. Among the birds of this order, it is the representatives of this family that are distinguished by their large size and developed intelligence. What birds are corvids, what are the features of their biology and is it worth keeping them in captivity - all this is discussed in this article.
Different, but very similar
Ravens are passerine-like vertebrates. Corvid birds (common jay, blue jay, gray crow, common raven, jackdaw, rook and many others) represent a fairly large family, which includes 23 genera and more than 120 species of birds. All of them are characterized by a peculiar “crow” appearance - these are large birds (weight up to 1.5 kg) with a dense body, a large head with a large, slightly curved beak. All of them are dark in color, although there are also brightly colored elegant corvids (photo above - blue jay Aphelocoma coerulescens).
These birds are distributed almost everywhere on the globe. Birds of the corvid family live in forests, steppes, deserts, and mountains. They are not found in Antarctica, on far north, South America and on the oceanic islands of New Zealand.
In Russia, corvid birds (photo below) are represented by 15 species, the most famous of which are gray crow (Corvus cornix) and black crow (Corvus corone), common raven (Corvus corax), rook (Corvus frugilegus), jackdaw (Corvus monedula), magpie common (Pica pica).
Some species features
The article does not allow us to characterize many species of corvids. We will describe only a few representatives. Well known to all of us.
The common raven (Corvus corax) is one of the smartest representatives of the family. A large bird with a wingspan of up to 1.5 meters, a weight of up to 1.5 kilograms and a body length of up to 70 centimeters. The beak is massive, high and sharp. The tail is wedge-shaped. The color is black with a metallic tint; females do not differ from males.
Gray (Corvus cornix) and black (Corvus corone) crows - body sizes up to 56 centimeters. Sometimes they are considered as two subspecies of the same species, differing in the color of their feathers - the first has a black head, wings and tail, and the body is gray, the second has black with a greenish or purple tint.
Rook (Corvus frugilegus) - birds with a body length of up to 45 centimeters, the color is black with a purple sheen, the base of the beak is bare. Migratory birds in the northern part of the range.
Jackdaws (Corvus monedula) are fairly small birds. Body length up to 35 centimeters. The wings and tail are black and the body is slate gray. The beak is short and stocky. Cheerful and sociable birds. Due to their cheerful nature, they are often kept in captivity.
Magpie (Pica pica) - characterized by a characteristic black and white color. Body length up to 50 centimeters. The tail is longer than the body.
The common jay (Garrulus glandarius) is a rare representative of Russian corvids with bright plumage. The name of these birds comes from the Old Russian word “soy”, which means “to shine”. The jay is the size of a jackdaw, has a crest on the head, a reddish-brown body combined with a white rump, bright blue shoulders with stripes and black wings, tail and top of the head. Jays are skilled imitators and their song consists of the sounds of other birds singing.
Raven and crow are not husband and wife
As has already become clear, these are birds of the same genus, Crows, but completely different species. And even their external similarity leaves no doubt about that. They never form pairs.
But with their species, most corvids (photo - a pair of magpies at the nest) they enter into long-term monogamous relationships. Sexual dimorphism in corvids is not developed; the male is usually somewhat larger than the female. The male and female together build a nest from branches, holding them together with grass and bark. Together they incubate and feed the chicks, which usually number from 4 to 7. The chicks hatch from colored eggs (usually pale green with brown spots) on days 16-22 and do not leave the nest until 10 weeks of age. But even after this, parents often continue to care for and educate their offspring.
Our neighbours
Sinanthropus is the name given in biology to species of animals that live near humans. And there are many such birds among corvids. This is primarily due to their omnivorous nature and intelligence. Most corvids feed on both plant and animal foods. They eat berries and fruits, vegetables and nuts, insects, invertebrates, small mammals, birds and their eggs, and do not disdain carrion.
They adapt well to life next to humans, using the remnants of our vital activity for food. In the urban landscape, flocks of crows that live in landfills are a common occurrence.
Social and savvy
Most corvids live in groups and for a long time. For example, crows (Corvus corax) live up to 100 years in captivity. And thanks to social cohabitation, it is the corvids who have a fairly high intelligence, comparable in level to primates. Of course, not everyone in the order of corvids is so smart.
But there are many examples of solving complex logical problems by jays, gray crows and common crows, magpies, jackdaws and rooks. They are described in the literature, they are studied by ethologists (scientists of animal behavior) and from the earliest times it was the representatives of this family who personified wisdom and experience in legends and tales.
Amazing birds
They are empathetic, easy to learn, courageous, inquisitive and cautious birds. Young birds in a flock of ravens play cooperative educational games. In addition, packs have a clear hierarchy, which implies certain responsibilities(watchmen, signalmen, scouts).
Cooperation required these birds to develop a signaling system. Although they belong to the song passerines, their actual singing is not developed. It is more of a single sound production, which we call "croaking." But what’s interesting is that crows from different flocks have their own dialects and they do not immediately understand each other. But in their flock they organize entire meetings, collectively “hunt” and play.
Observant and cruel
Crows can easily distinguish between a person with a gun and a stick in his hands. They assess the danger and conduct surveillance. That is why scarecrows cannot keep them from attacking the crop for long. They distinguish men from women; they are less afraid of the latter and more often make fun of them.
Yes they have a sense of humor. Easily imitating the barking of dogs, they scare cats. And they even master the elements of our speech and skillfully use the acquired knowledge.
They have an inherent craving for beauty for beauty's sake - so many fairy tales have been written about magpies and their treasures.
They will fight fiercely to protect their nest. And they will compete in obtaining or even taking food.
and cities
Their unpretentiousness in food allows them to perform sanitary service in nature and the city. These are inhabitants of garbage bins and landfills in the city, they also destroy animal corpses. Due to their predilection for carrion, they have long been considered “prophetic” birds and companions of misfortune. Circling over the battlefield, they involuntarily became an image of death.
But in nature, these birds are distinguished by complex feeding behavior, in which they are helped by memory, observation and intelligence. They even remember people who feed birds in parks or stray animals, beds in holiday villages where strawberries grow. Memory allows them to stock up and empty their gardens on time.
Mythological image
At the most different nations Throughout the world, you can find the image of corvid birds that personify rather contradictory qualities. In Ireland, the raven is the companion of the goddess of death and war. But in Australia, a raven stole fire from the gods for people. In China there is a legend about ten suns, which were personified by ravens.
The ancient Greeks considered crows to be harbingers of rain. In Aesop's fables they represent stupidity and arrogance.
Among the Slavs, corvids were considered “unclean.” Their meat was not eaten; they accompanied sorcerers and fortune-tellers, and it was believed that they lived forever.
Crows were considered susceptible to flattery and vain. The story of a crow dropping a piece of cheese in response to praise, described in the famous fable by the Russian writer Ivan Andreevich Krylov (1769-1844), is found in many cultures around the world.
In modern culture, the image of crows is smoothed out and loses its ominous meaning. But since ancient times, many signs and proverbs associated with these birds have come to us and continue to play their role in life. Many of which are explained by the biology and intelligence of their natural prototypes.
Pets
Keeping corvids in captivity does not cause any difficulties. The chicks quickly become tamed, recognize their owners, and make friends with dogs, cats, and horses. But there are also nuances in their content. These are active and energetic birds - in captivity they need to be occupied with games and entertainment. In addition, these large birds require a spacious enclosure, and if you live in a free apartment, be prepared for repeated cleaning. They are unpretentious in nutrition and will be satisfied with the contents of your refrigerator.
Corvids live a long time - so your willingness to share several decades with your pet should be balanced and conscious.
The original text is presented at the bottom of the page
Crow family
All birds that make up one large group, called a class in zoology, are divided into groups, like schoolchildren, when two or more teams need to be formed within one class. Only birds are divided into groups not anyhow, but according to similar characteristics. In turn, orders include families - groups of birds that have one or more ancestors that are similar in structure and other characteristics. Families are ultimately represented by genera, and each genus by a group of species. There is nowhere to go further, except perhaps we can talk about subspecies and various geographical forms, but there are no longer any serious differences between them that would prevent joint reproduction, therefore certain types you won't announce them. So, in the avian order of passerines, the richest in the number of species, there is one separate family, known for its large representatives and their extraordinary mental abilities. It's about about the corvid family. We will talk about the most striking and frequently encountered people, especially since only 14 species of this curious family live on the territory of Russia.
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