Birds of Alberton: Pied Crow
Pied crows are large bold birds that commonly scavenge in Alberton.
The pied crow is a large black bird commonly seen scavenging around Alberton.
Pied crows are quite distinctive in Alberton and not likely to be confused with other birds. The crow is large and largely black. The black feathers are glossy and cover the back, head, wings and tails of the bird. Contrasting strongly with the glossy black is a white patch that goes around the mantle and extends to the breast area of the pied crow. The bill of the pied crow is large and heavy and along with the legs are coloured black.
Pied crows are omnivorous and extremely opportunistic. They eat a wide range of food ranging from seeds and fruits to hunting small animals and insects. The crows are efficient scavengers eating carrion left over from other animals hunting. In areas where humans live pied crows have taken to scavenging in rubbish dumps and general garbage thrown away by the people. They have adapted to living in towns due to the availability of food, often using electricity pylons as nesting sites.
Pied crows like the other members of their family are known for being both intelligent and bold. They have been known to mob other predatory birds, including raptors much larger than themselves, in order to rob them of their food. Their feeding behaviour is intricate as reports of pied crows dropping rocks on ostrich eggs to break them open and eat the contents.
Pied crows roost communally. In certain cases a large tree can see hundreds of crows roosting together. Contrary to this pied crows create solitary nests. Pied crows are monogamous breeders and pairs usually bond for life together creating a large nest from sticks and roofs. The nest is constructed in trees but in urban environments can be made on telephone poles, pylons or tall buildings.
