The American crow resides in much of North America and differs from similar species found in other regions – carrion crow, hooded crow, and fish crow. The American crow and hooded crow are similar in size, structure, and behavior but have different callings. The American crow lets out a loud, short, and quick cry, raising and lowering its head. Sometimes these birds mimic the callings of other birds, such as striped owls. Dimensions of the American crow are 40-50 cm (16-20 inches) from beak to tail, weighing 300-600 g (11-21 oz.).
Subspecies
There are five subspecies that vary in beak size; Corvus brachyrhynchos brachyrhynchos eastern crow: the northeastern United States, eastern Canada is the most common. Corvus brachyrhynchos caurinus is a northwestern crow endemic to the Pacific Temperate rain forests. Corvus brachyrhynchos hesperis is a western crow that inhabits the western part of North America, except for the far south and the Pacific Northwest. Corvus brachyrhynchos pascuus – Florida crow, habituated in Florida, and Corvus brachyrhynchos paulus is a southern crow whose habitat is the southern United States.
Interesting Facts
I chose the American crow because they are very intelligent and have brain-to-body ratios similar to that of a human. Scientists have found that crows are self-aware, and their complex brain region can be compared to the human neocortex. Crows are long-lived and can live up to 30 years in captivity, although in the wild, their lifespan is usually 7-8 years. Fortunately, this bird is no longer on the verge of extinction, as the population of American crows is estimated at 31 million individuals.
References
Chomchalow, N. (2001). How to Write Scientific Names of Organisms. AU Journal of Technology, 5(2), 1-2.