13th March, 2024
SOUMI MITRA
Crows are familiar, but just the tip of the iceberg! The Corvid family is full of brilliant birds with unique personalities and amazing abilities.
● Members of the Corvidae family include ravens, jays, magpies, and more. ● High Intelligence: Known for problem-solving, using tools, and understanding abstract concepts. ● Adaptable Generalists: Thrive in various habitats, often living near humans.
● Widespread across North America. ● Social and Cooperative: Live in large flocks with complex family structures. ● Vocal Virtuosos: Make a wide range of caw clicks and even mimic other sounds.
● Larger than crows, with a shaggy throat and wedge-shaped tail. ● Range across the Northern Hemisphere – mountains, forests, and coasts. ● Cultural icons are featured in mythology and folklore due to their cleverness.
● Bold and Beautiful: Instantly recognizable by their long tail, white belly, and iridescent blue-black feathers. ● Thieving Reputation: A fondness for shiny objects, sometimes pilfering buttons or jewelry. ● Surprisingly Smart: One of the few animals that can recognize themselves in a mirror!
● Eastern Backyard Star: Common across eastern North America, known for bold personalities. ● Noisy Neighbors: Loud, harsh calls can mimic hawks or other birds. ● Acorn Architects: Play a key role in spreading oak trees by burying acorns and forgetting some.
● Seed Specialist: Adapted to feed on pine seeds, prying them from tough cones. ● Memory Marvel: Can cache up to 30,000 seeds and remember their locations for months! ● Mountain Bird: Inhabits conifer forests of western North America.
● Coastal Resident: Found along the eastern seaboard and US Gulf Coast. ● Scavenger's Diet: Will snatch fish, crabs, and even food scraps from beachgoers. ● Tell by the Call: A two-note "caw-uh" call distinguishes them from American Crows.
● Noisy Colonies: Form large "rookeries" – social nesting groups – in Europe and Asia. ● Pale Face: Adults have a distinctive bare patch of grayish-white skin around the bill. ● Farmland Favorites: Common in agricultural areas, forming large flocks in fields.