Jungle Crow

Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Class: Aves Order: Passeriformes Family: Corvidae Genus: Corvus Species: macrorhynchos
Binomial name
Corvus macrorhynchos

The Jungle Crow is extremely variable in both it's overall size and body proportions across the large geographical region that it covers. In the far northeast in Japan, the Kuriles[?] and the Sakhalin peninsula, it is somewhat larger than the Carrion Crow, while the form from India in the southwest of it's range is appreciably smaller than the Carrion crow. All forms have a relatively long bill with the upper one quite thick and arched, making it look heavy and almost Raven-like. Generally, all forms have dark greyish plumage from the back of the head, neck, shoulders and lower body. Their wings, tail, face and throat are glossy black. The depth of the grey shading varies across its range to almost black in the Indian form.

The range of this species is extensive and stretches from the northeastern Asian seaboard to Afghanistan and eastern Iran in the west, and south to India down to the Malaysian peninsula in the southeast. The Philippines also have a regional form. It occurs in woodland, parks and gardens, cultivated regions with a least some trees, but is a bird of more open country in the south of it's range where it is not in competition with the Raven and Carrion Crow of the north.

Extremely versatile in it's feeding, it will take food from the ground or in trees. Almost everything is fair game as anything small enough that is remotely edible, alive or dead, plant or animal will be investigated. It is also one of the most persistent species and is quite bold, especially in urban areas. It is well known for it's regular habit of killing domestic Chickens, more so than any other species of Crow.

Interestingly, the Japanese form is stated as rarely gliding or soaring, whereas the form from the Himalayas appears to relish it.

The nest is usually high up in a tree with a preference for tall Conifers like Fir or Pine. There are normally 3-5 eggs laid and they are incubated for 17-19 days. The young are fledged usually by about the 35th day.

The voice is similar to the House Crow with which it is closest to, but deeper and usually more resonant and described as the usual loud caaa-caaa-caaa.

Image link

• Jungle Crow (http://0958.hp.infoseek.co.jp/photo/karasu1.jpg)