Birds of St Columba's - Hooded Crow

Hooded Crow

Hooded Crow (Corvus cornix) This Eurasian species is very similar to the Carrion Crow and was, until recently (2002), thought to be a race of the same species. They are more sociable than the carrion crow and they have very distinctive grey and black plumage. They are carrion eaters, i.e. they eat dead animals, but their diet is very varied and they can even be seen raiding bins. They are quite common around the college. The nest made of twigs is usually found in a tall tree and the lay four to six brown speckled blue eggs from April onwards. In Irish folklore the bird is seen on the shoulder of the dying Cú Chulainn, perhaps waiting to pluck his eyes out.