Corvus ossifragus
The Fish Crow (*Corvus ossifragus*) is a sleek, medium-sized member of the Corvidae family, measuring 36-41 cm (14-16 inches) in length with a wingspan of 79-84 cm (31-33 inches) and weighing 230-310 grams. Its plumage is uniformly glossy black, often displaying iridescent purples and greens in favorable light, complemented by a stout black bill, black legs, and dark eyes. While visually very similar to the American Crow, its most distinctive field mark is its unique vocalization—a nasal, oft...
Primarily found in coastal and estuarine habitats, riverine forests, wetlands, and increasingly in urban and suburban areas, always in close proximity to water sources. They typically occupy low elevations.
An opportunistic omnivore, the Fish Crow consumes a wide variety of food, including fish, crustaceans, mollusks, insects, eggs and nestlings of other birds, carrion, fruits, seeds, and human refuse. They primarily forage by walking on the ground, probing, and snatching items from surfaces or shal...
Fish Crows are diurnal and highly social birds, often forming large communal roosts, especially outside the breeding season, sometimes mixed with American Crows. They are opportunistic foragers, walking on the ground, probing mudflats, snatching items from the water's surface, or exhibiting aeria...
The Fish Crow's primary breeding range extends across the southeastern United States, from coastal New England (southern Massachusetts and Rhode Island) south along the Atlantic seaboard through Florida, and westward along the Gulf Coast to eastern Texas. Its range has been notably expanding inla...
Least Concern
- The Fish Crow's most reliable distinguishing feature from the American Crow is its voice – a short, nasal 'uh-uh' or 'ca-ha' rather than a clear 'caw'. - Their scientific name, *Corvus ossifragus*, literally means 'bone-breaking crow,' referring to their ability to open shellfish by dropping th...