Carrion Crow
Carrion Crow
Bird
Collective name: a murder · also: a hover
The carrion crow is an all-black, highly intelligent bird usually seen alone or in pairs. One of the cleverest creatures in the animal kingdom, it uses tools, solves puzzles and eats almost anything, making it at home everywhere from open moorland to busy towns.
💡 Fun Facts
- Carrion crows are among the cleverest birds in the world — they can solve puzzles, bend sticks or use stones as tools, and even remember a person's face for years.
- A carrion crow is black all over, from its heavy beak to its feet, and is usually seen on its own or in a pair — unlike its cousin the rook, which lives in big, busy colonies.
- They will eat almost anything, from worms and grain to fruit and leftovers, which is why they do well everywhere from wild moors to city streets.
📅 Through the Year
- Breeding:March to June
Name Story
Corvus corone
means “crow crow”
What does its name mean?
- corvus — crowLatin
- corone — crowGreek
There's no hidden meaning here — just a bit of fun. The Romans had a word for 'crow' (corvus) and the Ancient Greeks had one too (corone), and scientists popped them side by side. So this bird is, quite simply, 'crow crow'.