Crow hybrid?

[Malcolm Fraser]

Is this a hybrid of carrion crow and hooded crow? If so, are they quite commonly seen?



Thanks
Malcolm

[Cowgirl]

Aren't hooded crows the same species as crow? It's just an abberation that appears in the north of Scotland? If so they probably would breed together when they meet. It's not really a hybrid then or is it? I'm sure someone with more expertise will come along & explain.

[Ferret]

Yes that is a cross between Carrion and Hooded Crow and they do commonly cross where the two species are found together, in fact until fairly recently the Hooded Crow was considered to be a sub-species of the Carrion Crow.

Ferret

[solus]

Carrion and Hooded are now considered as separate species by the BOU (British Ornithologists Union) who maintain the official British list.

However, as one moves further north in Britain intergrades do occur and in Malcolm's area they will be seen more often than in England, for example.

The north west of Scotland, the islands, and the whole of the Republic of Ireland have Hooded Crows as the main species, England, Wales and southern Scotland have Carrion Crows. However, occasional Hoodies have turned up on (for example) the Isles of Scilly and I have also seen a hybrid family there in the past. Just to confuse matters!

[Malcolm Fraser]

Thanks for confirming the ID, and for the extra information on hybrids