Crows (Corvidae)
American Crow (Corvus brachyrhynchos) - HBW 14, p. 626
French: Corneille d'Amérique
German: Amerikanerkrähe
Spanish: Cuervo Americano
Other common names: Common Crow
Taxonomy: Corvus brachyrhynchos C. L. Brehm, 1822, North America = vicinity of Boston, Massachusetts, USA.
Recent molecular-genetic studies suggest that this species might be most closely related to C. corone and that the two form a sister-taxon to the Caribbean C. jamaicensis, C. nasicus and C. leucognaphalus. Genetic similarity to C. caurinus unknown, but the two may well be a single species at present owing to present species' genetic swamping of former, probably accelerated by its NW range expansion (now extending N to Hyder, in Alaska), facilitated by urbanization and agricultural development of formerly densely forested NW Pacific coast. There appears to be.. View all taxonomy...
Recent molecular-genetic studies suggest that this species might be most closely related to C. corone and that the two form a sister-taxon to the Caribbean C. jamaicensis, C. nasicus and C. leucognaphalus. Genetic similarity to C. caurinus unknown, but the two may well be a single species at present owing to present species' genetic swamping of former, probably accelerated by its NW range expansion (now extending N to Hyder, in Alaska), facilitated by urbanization and agricultural development of formerly densely forested NW Pacific coast. There appears to be no distinct boundary between nominate race and hesperis, and individuals of this species found N into SE Alaska and E to C Alberta, C Saskatchewan, Nevada, Arizona and New Mexico may include hesperis. Geographical variation largely clinal: in S USA, proposed races paulus (described from Alabama) and hargravei (Great Basin) synonymized with nominate. Known to hybridize in wild with C. corax. Three subspecies recognized.
Subspecies and Distribution:
- brachyrhynchos C. L. Brehm, 1822 - S Canada from SW Northwest Territories E to Atlantic coast of Newfoundland, and S throughout Midwest and E USA to at least NW Florida and Gulf of Mexico; expanding W through Montana, Idaho, Wyoming, Utah, Colorado, Nevada and C Arizona.
- hesperis Ridgway, 1887 - SW Canada (interior British Columbia) S in W USA to Washington, N Idaho, Oregon and California, and extreme NW Mexico (extreme NW Baja California).
- pascuus Coues, 1899 - peninsular Florida.
- Least Concern
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An adult perched on a dead pine tree calling several times. Santa Barbara County, California, USA (ssp hesperis)
Don DesJardin 4 November 2009 42 weeks ago 37 sec 4 -
A flock of birds flying and calling Rockville, Montgomery County, Maryland, USA (ssp brachyrhynchos)
Robert Schaefer 30 December 2001 2 years ago 12 sec 3.8 -
An adult bird feeding in a beach Ventura County, California, USA (ssp hesperis)
Don DesJardin 28 February 2002 3 years ago 17 sec 3.7 -
A bird feeding on the ground, under a bird table Greenwich Audubon Centre, Connecticut, USA (ssp brachyrhynchos)
Josep del Hoyo 1 May 2006 4 years ago 37 sec 3.7 -
Two birds perched in a tree New York Thruway, New York, USA (ssp brachyrhynchos)
Robert Schaefer 3 May 2002 2 years ago 15 sec 3.7 -
A fledgling just out of the nest and adults calling in the background Union City, Alameda County, California, USA (ssp hesperis)
Leslie Lieurance 2005 5 years ago 15 sec 3.6
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American Crow Florida, USA
DansPix 29 September 2007 1 year ago 4 -
American Crow Florida, USA
killiajk 7 February 2009 1 year ago 3.5 -
scavenger bird looking for food on a cold day in winter Alberta, Canada
Josie 23 December 2009 35 weeks ago 3
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Alarm calls of 2 or 3 individuals Atlanta, Georgia, USA
Stuart Fisher 4 June 2009 1 year ago 4
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