The Pied crow is a widespread African bird.
The Pied Crow is characterized as opportunistic, curious, and highly intelligent, with a unique appearance thanks to its large and strong wings. This article from teketrek discusses the most important information about the Pied Crow.
Physical Characteristics of the Pied Crow:
The Pied crow is included in the Animalia kingdom, Chordata phylum, Aves class, Passeriformes order, and Corvidae family.
The Pied Crow is a black bird with an average Burrowing Owl height of 47 cm and Burrowing owl weight between 300 – 450 grams in adults. Under certain light, the Pied Crow’s feathers appear shiny.
The wingspan of an adult Pied Crow ranges from 84 to 100 cm, and both males and females look similar.
Burrowing Owl habitat
These black birds naturally occur in sub-Saharan Africa, specifically in Nigeria, Ghana, Senegal, Sudan, as well as Somalia, Eritrea, Zambia, Botswana, Zimbabwe, and all the way to the Cape of Good Hope.
In addition, it has been found in the following areas: Big Island Madagascar, Comoros, Aldabra, Assumption Island, Cosmoledo, Astove Island, Zanzibar, Pemba, and Fernando Po.
What do burrowing owls eat?
It might be easier to list what the Pied Crow doesn’t eat, given that it is a carnivorous animal with a varied diet.
The Pied Crow consumes all types of invertebrates, such as grasshoppers, termites, locusts, spiders, and beetles.
Additionally, the Pied Crow has a reputation for eating frogs, small birds, fish, rodents, and lizards.
The Pied Crow has an amazing ability to catch locusts, bats, and small birds in the air. Sometimes it targets perched fruit bats.
The Pied Crow’s diet depends on its habitat, where birds in the south prefer plant-based foods like seeds, fruits, and roots. These crows can be seen searching near garbage bins and dumps and on the roadside for any carrion.
The Pied Crow will chase forest fires to catch fleeing insects. Spotted crows have been observed dropping stones from a distance to crack the shells of common ostrich eggs.
Pied Crows usually feed in pairs or small groups, getting most of their food from the ground. When there is plenty of food, large flocks can sometimes be seen.
Is the Pied Crow an Aggressive Bird?
It resembles the hooded crow in its behaviour.
The Pied Crow has a bad reputation for raiding nests to steal eggs and chicks and harassing larger birds, such as eagles, vultures, and snakes.
Most often, these species of crow are found in pairs or small groups, and in the presence of an abundant food source, they can be found in large numbers.
Is the Pied Crow an Intelligent Bird?
Like many other crow species, the Pied Crow is considered to be highly intelligent. Recent research has revealed that some Pied Crows can make tools and solve complex problems at a level comparable to monkeys.
The Pied Crow can accurately mimic sounds and even words with astonishing precision.
The Pied Crow is naturally social, and its high level of intelligence also allows it access to its ability to harm.
Most things can be obtained by the Pied Crow with its beak, where it can manipulate and destroy them easily.
Does the Pied Crow Store Food?
When there is an abundance of food, Pied Crows store it for later use in caches.
These birds bury food in various locations or hide it in things like leaves.
When Pied Crows are hungry, they return to the temporary food storage sites and retrieve the food.
Pied Crows often mark their favorite hiding spots with signs so they can remember where they hid their food.
Sometimes, the Pied Crow moves stored food because they know that thieves might take it.
Mating Habits of the Pied Crow:
Pied Crows are usually found in pairs or flocks, and they are monogamous birds, meaning the Pied Crow will find a mate and then mate with this partner for the rest of its life.
Female Pied Crows lay from one to seven green eggs at a time.
Pied Crows usually build their nests high in trees, and in urban areas, they may build nests atop telephone poles.
Differences Between the Pied Crow and Other Crows: Can They Be Easily Distinguished?
We all know how famous crows are around the world. They are among the most commonly spotted birds in nature, easily recognizable by their black color, and widely featured in cartoons and children’s shows. However, what many don’t know is that there are different types of crows that vary in appearance and behavior. Here are the descriptions of some popular types:
- Black Crow:
Known for its glossy black feathers covering its whole body, the black crow also has dense, long feathers and some curly ones around the throat area. It features a strong, slightly curved beak. - Pied Crow:
This crow is easily recognized by its mostly black feathers interspersed with white ones, especially around the wings and tail. It also has sharp, piercing eyes, making it famous for its keen eyesight—considered the strongest among all crow species. - European Crow:
Similar in color to the black crow but distinguished by its extra-soft feathers and a relatively large head. It is highly social and prefers staying in large flocks rather than alone.
The pied crow can be distinguished easily from other crows due to its unique coloration—a mix of dark black and patches of white feathers.
Urbanization and the Behavior of the Pied Crow: Has It Adapted to City Life?
Overall, the pied crow has shown remarkable adaptability to urban environments. It’s become a familiar sight and even a cultural symbol in some countries. Although naturally a calm creature, it gathers in large flocks in crowded areas, navigating complex paths to find food. It takes advantage of available urban resources like human food waste, which has significantly altered its diet. In the wild, it hunts for food, but in cities, it relies mostly on garbage and leftovers.
Scientific Studies on the Pied Crow: What Have Researchers Discovered?
Research shows that the pied crow’s impressive abilities go beyond adaptability. It displays high intelligence, such as using tools, solving problems, and planning ahead—like storing food for future use. It communicates through a variety of sounds and body signals that convey complex messages, including danger alerts or sharing food locations. Interestingly, it also engages in playful behaviors such as collecting shiny objects or competing with peers.
Legends and Folklore: The Pied Crow in African Traditions
Since childhood, we’ve heard stories and myths about crows, but did you know the pied crow has also been a part of ancient legends? In some African cultures, it symbolizes knowledge and light. It was believed to be one of the forces involved in human creation, carrying fire from the sky to the Earth. In other cultures, it symbolized wisdom, often portrayed teaching people important life lessons like thinking before making decisions.
Despite this, global traditions often view crows—especially the pied crow—as omens of bad luck or death, with many stories recounting tragic events after someone spotted a pied crow.
Does the Pied Crow Threaten Biodiversity?
Every living organism plays a vital role in maintaining ecological balance. The pied crow is omnivorous and considered a secondary or tertiary consumer in the food chain. It eats rodents, chicks, small snakes, fruits, vegetables, grains, and even garbage.
As a scavenger, it feeds on animal remains, helping recycle energy back into the ecosystem. Thus, it plays a crucial environmental role. It only poses a threat to biodiversity when its population grows excessively in a specific area, leading to resource competition with other species and disruption of food chains.
How to Teach Children About the Pied Crow in Fun Ways
Teaching kids about the pied crow can be both educational and entertaining by using methods such as:
- Reading short, interactive stories where the pied crow is the main character—especially tales from African folklore.
- Organizing fun activities like drawing, coloring, or making puppets and masks to role-play.
- Visiting nature reserves or parks where children can observe the bird in its natural habitat.
Comparing Pied Crow Behavior in Captivity vs. the Wild
| In Captivity | In the Wild |
|---|---|
| Becomes more dependent on humans. | Lives in flocks and communicates actively. |
| Eats prepared food, affecting diet variety. | Hunts insects, fruits, and carrion naturally. |
| May become bored or inactive. | Faces environmental challenges that stimulate its intelligence. |
The Strangest Behaviors Ever Observed in Pied Crows
Due to its high intelligence, the pied crow has exhibited some bizarre and fascinating behaviors, including:
- Using tools to hunt or eat.
- Storing food in hidden spots for later.
- Interacting with humans in unusual ways, such as opening doors or using devices to access food.
- Playing games like exchanging objects or sliding on smooth surfaces.
The Pied Crow’s Role in Environmental Conservation: Bird or Cleaner?
The pied crow is vital for the environment in several ways:
- Cleans up carrion, its main food source.
- Acts as a bio-indicator of ecosystem health.
- Reduces organic waste decomposition in soil.
- Helps clean both urban and rural areas by feeding on all kinds of human waste.
Frequently Asked Questions About the Pied Crow:
- How long does the Pied Crow live?
The Pied Crow can live up to 30 years.
- Do Pied Crows make good pets?
It is generally not recommended to keep Pied Crows or any type of crow, as the crow is an intelligent and social bird that requires a lot of mental stimulation and social interaction. It also needs a large space to fly, so it cannot be confined within a small cage.
The Pied Crow is a curious bird that likes to explore the environment, which means it may cause damage to household items.
- Is the Pied Crow considered an unclean bird?
In some traditions, the Pied Crow is considered an unclean bird and is attributed to transmitting diseases².
- Does the Pied Crow store food?
When there is an abundance of food, Pied Crows store it for later use in caches.
- Is the Pied Crow an intelligent bird?
Like many other crow species, the Pied Crow is considered to be highly intelligent. Recent research has revealed that some Pied Crows can make tools and solve complex problems at a level comparable to monkeys.
- How rare is a pied crow?
The pied crow is still very common.
- What does a pied crow symbolize?
It symbolizes wisdom and change.
Is a pied crow a raven?
Yes, a pied crow is a raven.
In conclusion
, it can be said that the Pied Crow represents a complex and diverse aspect of the bird world. Our understanding of this bird can deepen our appreciation for ecological diversity and the importance of maintaining the balance of nature. Thanks to its superior adaptability and learning abilities, the Pied Crow remains an integral part of the ecosystems it inhabits, reflecting the resilience and adaptability of wildlife in the face of ongoing environmental changes.
