THE BIRD-LIFE OF LONDON 



from the Continent, and the wonder is that they do not 

 more frequently visit the fields and open spaces of Greater 

 London. In Scotland the bird is a familiar one all the 

 year round, and in many localities replaces the Carrion 

 Crow. Its habits are much the same, only the bird is a 

 much more gregarious one, in this respect resembling the 

 Rook. It is equally omnivorous, seeking its food on the 

 fields or the sea-shore, preying upon any living thing it 

 can capture, any carrion it can find, or on any grain, 

 potatoes, turnips, and so forth that come its way. It 

 has the usual steady, prolonged flight of its kind, and in 

 spring often indulges in aerial gambols. Its note is a 

 harsh kra or krah, modulated at times into guttural 

 chuckles. The Hooded Crow breeds rather late, the 

 eggs being laid in April and May. Sometimes a tree is 

 selected for the nest, but more frequently in our islands 

 a ledge of rock on some cliff, or even the ground amongst 

 long heather. Many pairs frequently breed in the same 

 locality, although not exactly in colonies like Rooks. 

 The big nest is made outwardly of sticks and turf, lined 

 with wool, moss, hair, feathers, and fur. The eggs are 

 usually five, green of various tints in ground colour, 

 blotched and spotted with olive-brown and grey of 

 several shades. The birds evince the usual Crow-like 

 wariness during the breeding season, and after the young 

 are reared social tendencies are again more pronounced. 



The adult Hooded Crow has the head, wings, tail, 

 lanceolate throat feathers, and upper breast black, shot 

 with green and slightly with purple ; the remainder of 

 the plumage is grey. Bill black ; tarsi and toes black ; 

 irides dark brown. Length 17-18 inches. The female 

 is similar to the male in colour, as are the nestlings, but 

 the latter lack all metallic lustre, and the feathers on the 

 throat are less pointed. It has long been known that the 

 Hooded Crow interbreeds with the Carrion Crow in 

 certain localities where the two species occur. 

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