CROWS 201 



FISH CROW: Corvus ossifragus Wilson. 



State records. — The fish crow occurs chiefly along the 

 South Atlantic and Gulf coasts, but penetrates the interior 

 along the larger river valleys. It is fairly common about the 

 shores of Mobile Bay and has been observed in small numbers 

 at Bay Minette, Carlton, Jackson, and Stiggins Lake, near 

 Mount Vernon. On Dauphin Island this is apparently the 

 only resident species of crow, I saw about a dozen and shot 

 one there in May, and Outsell observed some in August. 

 Around the shores of Little Lagoon, Baldwin County, in Octo- 

 ber, 1908, a flock of about 20 was observed. I found fish 

 crows numerous in the pine woods near Spring Hill, July 10, 

 1913, and secured one full-grown young bird. On the shore 

 of Mississippi Sound at Coden, May 17, 1911, I found a flock 

 of about a dozen in a small, open pine grove, where they were 

 evidently nesting. Although usually very wary, on this oc- 

 casion they circled about over my head for some time and 

 I was able to shoot several specimens. 



General habits. — This species is difficult to distinguish in 

 the field from the common crow, but is readily recognized by 

 its weak, guttural call. It is rarely found far from the sea 

 and its inlets, or the shores of large rivers near the coast. 

 During the breeding season fish crows usually keep in small 

 companies of their own kind, but at other seasons they mingle 

 freely with the common crows. Around the shores of Mobile 

 Bay and Mississippi Sound this species is more numerous than 

 the common crow ; there they feed on the mud flats at the edge 

 of the water and pick up refuse animal matter brought in by 

 the tide. The fish crow nests later than the common crow, 

 the eggs being laid usually in May; the nests are in either 

 pines or deciduous trees, usually in a crotch against the trunk. 



Food habits. — ^The fish crow, as indicated by its common 

 name, feeds to some extent on fish, which it is reported to be 

 able to capture alive. It consumes also various other products 

 of the sea, as small crabs, shrimps, and mollusks. It is very 

 destructive to other birds' eggs, particularly those of herons, 

 terns, rails, the willet, and the Wilson plover, and when oppor- 

 tunity offers it takes the eggs of domestic fowls as well. 



