The carrion crow (Corvus corone) is a bird of the crow family, Corvidae, in the order Passeriformes.
Quick answer
The carrion crow (Corvus corone) is an all-black crow of western Europe and eastern Asia, common in towns, farmland and on coasts. Despite the name it eats far more than carrion, from insects and grain to eggs and scraps. It weighs 300–450 g and is usually seen alone or in pairs, unlike the flock-feeding rook. BirdLife lists it as Least Concern with a stable population.
Top questions about the Carrion Crow
Carrion Crow facts at a glance
- Weight 450 g
- Length 47 cm
- Lifespan 4 years
| Scientific name | Corvus corone |
|---|---|
| Diet | Omnivore: invertebrates, grain, eggs, small animals, carrion, scraps |
| Habitat | Farmland, towns, parks, coasts and moorland |
| Size | About 47 cm long; wingspan 84–100 cm |
| Weight | 300–450 g; UK adults average about 510 g |
| Lifespan | Typically 4 years; oldest ringed bird nearly 21 |
| Conservation status | Least Concern (IUCN Red List, assessed 2024) |
| Kingdom | Animalia |
|---|---|
| Phylum | Chordata |
| Class | Aves |
| Order | Passeriformes |
| Family | Corvidae |
| Genus | Corvus |
Where it lives
The carrion crow (Corvus corone) is native to Western Europe from Britain and Iberia to Germany and northern Italy, and eastern Asia from Siberia to Japan. — recorded across Europe, Asia in this guide’s range summary.
For occurrence records, see GBIF species search and sources below.
How big is a carrion crow?
An adult carrion crow measures 47 cm long — about 27% of the height of an average adult person (1.73 m) — and weighs around 450 g, about 1% of an average adult’s body weight (70 kg).
Length vs an average adult’s height (to scale)
What is a group of carrion crows called?
Group name (collective noun)
A group of Carrion Crows is called a murder.
Baby name
A baby Carrion Crow is called a chick.
Explore more animal collective nouns and baby animal names .
Identification
Carrion crows are black all over, with a glossy greenish or purplish sheen, a stout bill with feathers at its base and a square-ended tail. They are smaller than ravens and lack the rook's bare face. The call is a hard, rolling 'kraa'.
A split range
The species lives in two separate areas: western Europe, from Britain and Iberia to Germany and northern Italy, and eastern Asia, from Siberia to Japan. In between, the grey-and-black hooded crow takes its place, and the two interbreed where they meet.
Clever feeders
Carrion crows eat whatever is available and solve problems well. They drop shellfish onto rocks, cache food for later, raid bins and follow ploughs. Pairs hold territories year-round, while non-breeding birds may gather in flocks.
Status
BirdLife International lists the carrion crow as Least Concern (2024), estimating 54 to 92 million mature birds and a stable trend. BTO data give a typical life expectancy of 4 years; the oldest ringed bird lived 20 years and 10 months.
Explore the Carrion Crow
Close relatives
- Crow Same genus
- Rook Same genus
- Hooded Crow Same genus
- Common Raven Same genus
Did you know? Carrion Crow facts
- Carrion crows hide food to eat later.
- Pairs usually hold the same territory all year.
Conservation status of the Carrion Crow
The carrion crow (Corvus corone) is listed as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List. Least Concern (LC) is the IUCN's lowest-risk category, assigned to widespread, abundant species that have been evaluated and found not to be threatened. It does not mean a species faces no pressures — only that it is not currently at risk of extinction.
Carrion Crow (Corvus corone) was most recently assessed for the IUCN Red List in 2024. Look up on the IUCN Red List .
Frequently asked questions about the Carrion Crow
Do carrion crows only eat carrion?
No. They eat insects, worms, grain, fruit, eggs, small animals and human food waste as well as dead animals.
What is the difference between a crow and a raven?
Ravens are much larger, with a heavier bill, shaggy throat feathers and a wedge-shaped tail. Crows are smaller with a square-ended tail and a higher-pitched call.
What is the difference between a carrion crow and a rook?
Rooks have bare, pale skin around the bill base and usually feed in flocks; carrion crows have feathered bill bases and usually feed alone or in pairs.
How long do carrion crows live?
Typically about 4 years once they reach breeding age, but the oldest ringed carrion crow lived almost 21 years.
What is a group of carrion crows called?
A group of Carrion Crows is called a murder.
What is a baby carrion crow called?
A baby Carrion Crow is called a chick.
Sources & references
This guide is compiled and reviewed against established zoological and conservation references. Key sources for the Carrion Crow:
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IUCN Red List of Threatened Species
Conservation status (Least Concern) reflects the IUCN Red List category for Corvus corone, most recently assessed in 2024.
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iNaturalist — observations & photos
Search citizen-science observations and community IDs for Corvus corone. Useful for range checks and recent sightings — not a substitute for formal Red List status.
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GBIF — occurrence data
Global Biodiversity Information Facility species search for Corvus corone. Explore published occurrence records used in range research.
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eBird — bird observations
Cornell Lab eBird target search for Carrion Crow. Check recent checklists and seasonal abundance where birders report this species.
- BirdLife International (2026). Species factsheet: Carrion Crow Corvus corone. BirdLife DataZone. Checked 1 November 2026.
IUCN Red List category Least Concern (assessed 2024), population estimate and trend.
- Animal Diversity Web: Corvus corone. University of Michigan Museum of Zoology.
Size, lifespan and behaviour.
- BTO BirdFacts: Carrion Crow. British Trust for Ornithology.
Typical lifespan, oldest ringed bird and UK body weight.
- Tobias, J. A. et al. (2022). AVONET: morphological, ecological and geographical data for all birds. Ecology Letters 25: 581–597. doi:10.1111/ele.13898
Average body mass.
- Gill, F., Donsker, D. & Rasmussen, P. (Eds). IOC World Bird List v15.2.
English and scientific name, classification and range.
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