Island Life October/November 2018

Country Life
Photo: Carrion Crow
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By Alice Ashcroft, Hampshire &
Isle of Wight Wildlife Trust
Corvid confusion
Is it a rook, raven or crow? The three all-black corvids
cause a common ID challenge but they can be
identified by their size, shape and calls.
Corvids tend to have strong social
groups and communities. Crows
for example, often mate for life
and are co-operative breeders,
meaning other adults in the family
help with rearing offspring.
They are considered among
the most intelligent of birds, with
magpies having demonstrated
self-awareness in mirror tests, and
crows and rooks showing their
ability making and using simple
tools.
Here’s a brief guide from your
local Wildlife Trust to our all-black
corvids and some useful tips on
how to identify them.
Carrion Crow
Carrion crows (Corvus corone)
are widespread throughout the
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