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The scientific name of Crows is Corvus. Crows belong to the genus of Corvus, which comes under the family of Corvidae. Most members of this family are medium to large-sized with rounded heads and conical beaks. Crows typically have an entirely black plumage with shiny feathers on certain parts of their body, like their neck or torso. Crows are found on almost all temperate regions, except South America.
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Key Terms: Crow, Raven, Scientific Name, Genus, Corvus, Omnivores, Taxonomy, Kingdom, Phylum
Scientific Name of Crow
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Crows are usually black in colour and have shiny feathers on their body. Crows are typically smaller in size and do not have a bill as thick as that of ravens (which belong to the same genus). The majority of the corvus species, which is around 40, are known as crows. Large crows can usually measure almost about 0.5 meter (20 inches) long, alongside their wingspans which are about 1 meter long (39 inches). Crows are generally omnivores and usually kill weaker animals in order to consume food. Most members of this genus are located on almost every temperate continent, excluding South America.
Crow Eggs
There are several Nesting Facts about crows. Some include:
- Clutch Size: 3 to 9 eggs
- Width of Egg: 1.0 to 1.2 in (which is, 2.6 to 3.1 cm)
- Incubation Period: 16 to 18 days
- Nestling Period: 20 to 40 days
- Egg Type: Crow eggs are typically pale bluish-green to olive green in colour with dots of brown and grey by the tail of large ending.
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Classification of Crow
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Crows can be classified as per their types and scientific names. Some of the types of crows are:
| Scientific Name | Names |
|---|---|
| Corvus brachyrhynchos | American Crow |
| Corvus coronoides | Australian Raven |
| Corvus insularis | Bismarck Crow |
| Corvus unicolor | Banggai Crow |
| Corvus fuscicapillus | Brown-headed Crow |
| Corvus meeki | Solomon Islands Crow or Bougainville Crow |
| Corvus capensis | Cape Rook or Cape Crow |
| Corvus ruficollis | Brown-necked Raven |
| Corvus torquatus | Collared Crow |
| Corvus corone | Carrion Crow |
| Corvus cryptoleucus | Chihuahuan Raven |
| Corvus levaillantii | Eastern Jungle Crow |
| Corvus corax | Northern Raven |
| Corvus nasicus | Cuban Crow |
| Corvus hawaiiensis | Hawaiian Crow |
| Corvus rhipidurus | Fan-tailed Raven |
| Corvus ossifragus | Fish Crow |
| Corvus florensis | Flores Crow |
| Corvus tasmanicus | Tasmanian Raven |
| Corvus tristis | Grey Crow |
| Corvus culminatus | Indian Jungle Crow |
| Corvus cornix | Hooded Crow |
| Corvus splendens | Indian House Crow or House Crow |
| Corvus macrorhynchos | Large-billed Crow |
| Corvus jamaicensis | Jamaican Crow |
| Corvus moneduloides | New Caledonian Crow |
| Corvus bennetti | Little Crow |
| Corvus mellori | Little Raven |
| Corvus validus | Long-billed Crow |
| Corvus kubaryi | Mariana Crow |
| Corvus albus | Pied Crow |
| Corvus brachyrhynchos caurinus | Northwestern Crow |
| Corvus palmarum | Palm Crow |
| Corvus crassirostris | Thick-billed Raven |
| Corvus typicus | Celebes Pied Crow / Piping Crow |
| Corvus frugilegus | Rook |
| Corvus sinaloae | Sinaloa Crow |
| Corvus enca | Slender-billed Crow |
| Corvus edithae | Somali Crow |
| Corvus imparatus | Tamaulipas Crow |
| Corvus orru | Australian Crow or Torresian Crow |
| Corvus violaceus | Violet Crow |
| Corvus albicollis | White-necked Raven |
| Corvus leucognaphalus | White-necked Crow |
| Corvus woodfordi | White-billed Crow |
Characteristics of Crow
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There are crows that live up to the age of 20. Today, the oldest known American crow was found in the wild was about 30 years old. And the oldest captive crow lived up to the age of 59. There are other important characteristics of crows. Some of them include:
- Crows typically have their own methods to obtain food. Often, crows are seen to be very creative when it comes to food. They are seen as intelligent animals for reasons alike.
- Crows are not only seen to use tools but have been also found to make them as well. They can typically make tools on their own with the help of a corvid.
- Crows have the ability to imitate human sounds.
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Previous Year Questions
- Which of the following taxonomic categories of housefly is… (KEAM)
- A sedentary sea anemone gets attached … (NEET 2013)
- Read the statements given below and identify the incorrect statement… (KCET 2012)
- Which one of the following statements about certain given animals is correct?... (NEET 2010)
- Which of the following organisms possesses characteristics of a plant and an animal? (NEET 1995)
- Which one of the following is oviparous?... (NEET 2015)
- The process of growth is maximum during … (NEET 2020)
- Small mammals and birds are rarely found in polar regions … (KCET 2021)
- Which of the following is not an attribute of a population … (NEET 2020)
- A biologist studied the population of rats in a barn … (NEET 2013)
- Bladderworm/cysticercus is the larval stage of… (NEET 1991)
- Edaphology is… (KCET 2007)
Things to Remember
- The scientific name of Crows is Corvus.
- The incubation period of crow eggs is about 16 to 18 days.
- Crows are found on almost all temperate regions, with the exception of South America.
- Crows are usually black in color with shiny feathers on their body.
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Sample Questions
Ques. What is the scientific name of Tasmanian Raven? [1 mark]
Ans. The scientific name of the Tasmanian Raven is Corvus tasmanicus.
Ques. What is the scientific name of crows? [1 mark]
Ans. The scientific name of Crows is Corvus.
Ques. What is the lifespan of crows? [1 mark]
Ans. Crows can live up to the age of 20. As for today, the oldest known American crow was found in the wild was about 30 years old.
Ques. What is “Corvus Albicollis”? [2 marks]
Ans. Otherwise called the white-necked raven or Cape raven, Corvus Albicollis can be vastly found in southern, central, and eastern Africa. In general, they are found in the eastern and southern mountainous areas of Africa. Corvus Albicollis is the scientific name of the Cape Raven and they are smaller than the northern ravens.
Ques. What are some characteristics of crows? [2 marks]
Ans. Some of the characteristics of crows are:
- Crows can typically make tools on their own with the help of a corvid.
- Crows have the capability to imitate human sounds.
Ques. What does a crow look like? [1 mark]
Ans. Crows are typically black in colour and have shiny feathers on their body. Crows are usually smaller in size and do not have a bill as thick as that ravens (which belong to the same genus).
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