Large-billed Crow

Scientific Name: Corvus macrorhynchos

Classification: Order: Passeriformes; Family: Corvidae

Large-billed Crow

Brief Description

A large, robust, all-black crow with a heavy, thick beak and a distinctive vaulted or arched crown. It is highly intelligent and adaptable.

Additional Information

  • Region of Origin: South, Southeast, and East Asia; from the Himalayas to Japan and Malaysia.
  • Typical Sighting Period: Year-round resident across most of its range.
  • Plumage Details: Entirely black plumage with a glossy sheen that can appear purplish or greenish in good light. No significant sexual dimorphism; juveniles are duller black.
  • Ecological Significance: Acts as an important scavenger cleaning up carrion and waste, and also functions as a seed disperser.
  • Conservation Status: Least Concern (IUCN); population trend is stable and even increasing in urban areas.
  • Observation Tips: Easily found in various habitats from deep forests to busy city centers; listen for its low-pitched, harsh caw to locate it.

Size & Weight

Length: 46–59 cm; Wingspan: 100–130 cm; Weight: 450–650 g.

Diet

Omnivorous and opportunistic; eats insects, small vertebrates, eggs, fruit, grain, carrion, and human food scraps.

Habitat

Versatile; found in woodlands, gardens, agricultural fields, coastal areas, and heavily populated urban environments.

Migration

Mainly resident; some high-altitude populations may move to lower elevations during winter.

Voice (Call & Song)

Deep, resonant, and harsh 'kaaa-kaaa-kaaa' or 'kow-kow', generally lower in pitch than the House Crow.

Nesting & Breeding

Builds a platform nest of twigs in tall trees; usually 3-5 eggs are laid; both parents participate in defending the territory.

Key Field Marks

Large black body, massive bill with a curved culmen (top edge), and a steep, rounded forehead profile.

Similar Species

House Crow (Corvus splendens), which is smaller with a gray neck/breast; Jungle Crow, often used as a synonym but refers to specifically forest-dwelling subspecies/related species.

Interesting Facts

They are known for their high intelligence, including the ability to solve complex problems and recognize individual human faces.