The hooded crow (Corvus cornix) is a bird of the crow family, Corvidae, in the order Passeriformes.
Quick answer
The hooded crow (Corvus cornix) is a two-tone crow with a grey body and a black head, throat, wings and tail. It replaces the all-black carrion crow in Ireland, northern Scotland, Scandinavia, eastern Europe and the Middle East, and the two interbreed where their ranges meet. It eats almost anything, from shellfish to eggs and carrion. It is widespread and not threatened.
Top questions about the Hooded Crow
Hooded Crow facts at a glance
- Weight 430 g
| Scientific name | Corvus cornix |
|---|---|
| Diet | Omnivore: invertebrates, shellfish, eggs, grain, carrion |
| Habitat | Coasts, farmland, moorland, towns and open woodland |
| Weight | Average about 430 g |
| Oldest ringed bird | 10 years (BTO) |
| Range | Ireland, northern Scotland, northern and eastern Europe to western Siberia and the Middle East |
| Conservation status | Least Concern (assessed with the carrion crow, IUCN Red List 2024) |
| Kingdom | Animalia |
|---|---|
| Phylum | Chordata |
| Class | Aves |
| Order | Passeriformes |
| Family | Corvidae |
| Genus | Corvus |
Where it lives
The hooded crow (Corvus cornix) is native to Ireland, north-west Scotland, Scandinavia, eastern and south-eastern Europe to western Siberia and the Middle East. — recorded across Europe, Asia in this guide’s range summary.
For occurrence records, see GBIF species search and sources below.
What is a group of hooded crows called?
Group name (collective noun)
A group of Hooded Crows is called a murder.
Baby name
A baby Hooded Crow is called a chick.
Explore more animal collective nouns and baby animal names .
A crow in two colours
Hooded crows have an ash-grey back and underparts, while the head, throat, wings and tail are black. They are the same size and shape as carrion crows and make the same croaking calls; only the plumage separates them in the field.
Hooded or carrion?
Hooded and carrion crows meet along a narrow hybrid zone that runs through Scotland, Denmark, central Europe and Italy. Birds in the zone often show mixed grey and black plumage. The IOC World Bird List treats the two as separate species; BirdLife International assesses them together as one.
A clever generalist
Hooded crows feed on almost anything: insects and worms in fields, crabs and shellfish on the shore, eggs and chicks of other birds, grain, food waste and carrion. Coastal birds drop shellfish onto rocks to break them open.
Status
BirdLife International does not assess the hooded crow separately; its Red List entry for the carrion crow, Corvus corone, is Least Concern (2024) with a stable trend. Hooded crows are common across their range.
Explore the Hooded Crow
Close relatives
- Crow Same genus
- Rook Same genus
- Carrion Crow Same genus
- Common Raven Same genus
Did you know? Hooded Crow facts
- Where hooded and carrion crows meet, birds with patchy mixed plumage are common.
- Coastal hooded crows drop shellfish onto rocks to crack them.
Conservation status of the Hooded Crow
The hooded crow (Corvus cornix) 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.
Hooded Crow (Corvus cornix) was most recently assessed for the IUCN Red List in 2024. Look up on the IUCN Red List .
Frequently asked questions about the Hooded Crow
Is a hooded crow the same as a carrion crow?
They are very close relatives that interbreed where they meet. The IOC World Bird List treats them as separate species, while BirdLife International treats them as one.
Where do hooded crows live?
In Ireland, the Isle of Man, north-west Scotland, Scandinavia, eastern and south-eastern Europe, and east to western Siberia and the Middle East.
What do hooded crows eat?
Almost anything, including insects, worms, shellfish, eggs, nestlings, grain, scraps and carrion.
How long do hooded crows live?
The oldest ringed hooded crow in the BTO's records lived 10 years.
What is a group of hooded crows called?
A group of Hooded Crows is called a murder.
What is a baby hooded crow called?
A baby Hooded Crow is called a chick.
Sources & references
This guide is compiled and reviewed against established zoological and conservation references. Key sources for the Hooded Crow:
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IUCN Red List of Threatened Species
Conservation status (Least Concern) reflects the IUCN Red List category for Corvus cornix, most recently assessed in 2024.
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iNaturalist — observations & photos
Search citizen-science observations and community IDs for Corvus cornix. 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 cornix. Explore published occurrence records used in range research.
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eBird — bird observations
Cornell Lab eBird target search for Hooded 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.
- BTO BirdFacts: Hooded 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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