The Corvidae is a cosmopolitan family of passerine
birds that contains some of the most intelligent birds known to man that
display self-awareness, spatial memory and the ability to use tools. In English
this bird family is usually known as the crow family after one of its most
common members the Carrion crow. Together they are known as corvids
after the Latin name for the crow Corvus. These birds with black plumes are not closely related to Black birds.
The Magpie (Pica pica) is now more common in the urban
landscape than in its natural half open habitat of hedgerows and scattered
trees. These striking bird with black and white plumage- although in the right
light the black feathers reveal themselves to be iridescent green and blue- are
highly intelligent. The same sheen can be seen on the Carrion crow (Corvus
corone). These birds are the same size as the Magpie, they differ in the
overall colouration and the long tail. The Common raven (Corvus corax) is
another “black” corvid. This bird with a blue sheen is larger than the other
two species of corvids. All are opportunistic, omnivorous and intelligent birds.
The Jackdaw (Corvus monedula) is quickly becoming one
of the most common birds in urban areas. These gregarious, very intelligent
birds have excellent spatial memory and will even recognise human faces. They
are not truly black but rather darker and lighter shades of grey. They will
often operate in groups. In autumn these family groups merge into larger
flocks. It is the smallest corvid size wise.
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