Hooded Crows/Carrion crows

[stevensi]

Was looking on the RSPB website today and found it odd that it indicated that hooded crows are widespread over here in Ireland and Scotland yet don't seem to be widely distributed in England or Wales yet carrion crows are widespread in Britain but not in Ireland. I do know a few do turn up over here but it seems strange. Is there any reason for this?

Talking of hoodies I think they have really boomed in population in Ireland in the last few years. There seems to be loads.

[mrs fish]

Where the two species meet there are hybrid hoodies/carrions I just learnt that



I suppose that is just the way the crows have evolved for those areas and they are not birds that migrate.
It is fascinating stuff

[Jonathan]

Originally Posted by mrs fish

Where the two species meet there are hybrid hoodies/carrions I just learnt that



I suppose that is just the way the crows have evolved for those areas and they are not birds that migrate.
It is fascinating stuff

There's some evidence that the narrow band across Scotland where the two hybridise has slowly moved north in the last thirty or so years, with hoodie numbers decreasing as the carrion crow population expands.

I rarely saw carrion crows in Mid-Argyll 30 years ago, now I see them regularly, along with hybrids.

Jonathan

[Bub-les]

Originally Posted by Jonathan

There's some evidence that the narrow band across Scotland where the two hybridise has slowly moved north in the last thirty or so years, with hoodie numbers decreasing as the carrion crow population expands.

I rarely saw carrion crows in Mid-Argyll 30 years ago, now I see them regularly, along with hybrids.

Jonathan

Funny you should say that as we have both over here but I remember when I was a child my father telling me that hoodies were much much more common than carrion crows, in fact he told me there weren't any! I tend to see them in about equal numbers these days. The carrion crow seems to be increasing.
What does the hybrid look like do you have a photo?
Barbara

[mrs fish]

There are not many photos of the hybrids about but I found one

bottom of the page

Birds Ireland > Rare bird news > March photos

[Bub-les]

Thanks Mrs Fish I will be looking out for some. As far as I can remember I'm pretty sure I haven't noticed one.
Barbara

[demicav]

Originally Posted by mrs fish

There are not many photos of the hybrids about but I found one

bottom of the page

Birds Ireland > Rare bird news > March photos

Amazing, never knew of them.

[Jonathan]

Originally Posted by Bub-les

What does the hybrid look like do you have a photo?
Barbara

Hi Barbara,

Hybrids vary a lot in colour. They are fertile (unlike some hybrids) so can mate with pure hoodies or carrion crows, creating carrion x carrion/hoody, etc. I saw a hybrid in Bangor, North Wales (probably related to one of the Angelsey hoodie hybrids) who's grey mantle was only noticable in certain light, so faint was it.

Here's a pic of a hoody (left) and, possibly, a hoody/carrion x hoody, taken in Mid-Argyll. I've got a pic of one of the Angelsey hybrids somewhere, I'll dig it out when I have a mo!

Jonathan

[Jonathan]

Just realised I don't know how to attach an image!

Hope this works!



Jonathan