Large-billed crow (Corvus macrorhynchos)

Large-billed crow (Corvus macrorhynchos) is an omnivorous bird belonging to the Corvidae family. It is relatively large, entirely black, and measures 46–59 cm in length, with a weight ranging from 450 to 1000 g. It possesses a large, black bill with a curved culmen (the upper ridge of the bill). The base of the culmen is covered by a layer of stiff, overlapping black feathers.

C. macrorhynchos has glossy black plumage with a purplish sheen. The bases of the feathers on the neck are pale gray, and the throat features elongated feathers. The irises are dark brown, and the legs are black. Males and females have similar plumage, though females are generally smaller and have a less pronounced curve to the culmen. Juveniles have less glossy plumage, and their irises are grayish-blue rather than brown.



Differences between subspecies are observed in overall body size, bill dimensions, and the intensity of the plumage's sheen. The largest subspecies, C. m. japonensis, has a bill length of 70–80 mm, while the smallest, C. m. culminatus, has a bill length of 52–67 mm. Their vocalizations are complex and difficult to compare; however, the smaller C. m. culminatus tends to have a higher-pitched call than the larger C. m. intermedius.

These crows have a highly flexible diet, foraging both on the ground and in trees. They consume a wide variety of food, eating almost anything edible—whether plant or animal, living or dead. This species is notably persistent and bold, especially in urban environments.

This bird is often considered a pest because it frequently tears open trash bags and steals wire coat hangers to use as nesting material. It is also known to launch unprovoked, sudden attacks on humans, particularly when someone passes near its nesting area. The forest crow is an important predator of small animals; it is highly efficient, taking only 45 minutes to locate, capture, and consume four lizards.

The nest consists of a platform made of twigs, typically situated high up in a tree—often a tall conifer, such as a spruce or pine. Built within the tree's branches, the nest takes the form of a shallow cup constructed from twigs; while some are crafted with care and precision, others appear haphazard and untidy. The interior is lined with rootlets, wool, scraps of fabric, plant matter, and similar materials.

The female lays 3–5 eggs, which are incubated for 17–19 days. The chicks fledge (begin to fly) around the 35th day. The eggs are broadly oval, measuring 1.45 by 1.05 inches, with the smaller end tapering slightly. They have a hard, smooth texture and a glossy surface. Their coloration varies across shades of blue-green, patterned with blotches, spots, and streaks in dull reddish-brown, pale sepia, gray, and other neutral tones.

These birds are gregarious when roosting, gathering in the thousands at specific locations. Large flocks are frequently observed arriving at these primary roosting sites at dusk. During the day, pairs are occupied with defending their territories, while at night, they congregate in large groups to roost. They maintain a linear dominance hierarchy, which they navigate through the recognition of individual flock members.

The call of this crow is deeper and typically more resonant, often described as a loud "caa-haa-caa." They also produce a variety of other vocalizations, such as "cau cau," while some sounds can even be mistaken for the tapping of a woodpecker against a tree trunk.

This species has few natural predators. Filarial parasites have been documented in this species, and pathogenic viruses—such as H5N1—have been recorded as causes of mortality. Large-scale die-offs have also been reported, resulting from Clostridium infections and enteritis.

TAXON

Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Subphylum: Vertebrata
Class: Aves
Order: Passeriformes
Family: Corvidae
Genus: Corvus Linnaeus (1758)
Species: Corvus macrorhynchos Wagler (1827)
Subspecies:
C. m. macrorhynchos (southern Indochina, Thai-Malay Peninsula, Sumatra, Java, Lesser Sundas)
C. m. colonorum (northern China, northern Indochina, Taiwan)
C. m. hainanus: Hainan (southern China)
C. m. mengtszensis (southwestern China, southern Yunnan)
C. m. mandshuricus (northeastern Asia)
C. m. tibetosinensis (eastern Himalayas, southeastern Tibet, northern Myanmar, western China)
C. m. connectens (southern Ryukyu Islands, Amami Ōshima, Okinawa, Miyako-Jima, southern Japan)
C. m. intermedius (far eastern Iran, northwestern India, western Himalayas)
C. m. japonensis (Sakhalin, Kuril Islands, northern Japan)

VERNACULAR NAME

Arabic: غراب الأدغال - غراب كبير المنقار
Azerbaijani: Böyükdimdik qarğa
Bengali: দাঁড় কাক
Bulgarian: Дебелоклюна врана
Catalan: Corb becgròs asiàtic, Corb becut
Chinese (simplified): 大嘴乌鸦
Chinese (traditional): 大嘴烏鴉 - 巨嘴鴉
Croatian: Krupnokljuna vrana, Krupnokljuna vrana
Czech: Vrána hrubozobá, Vrána tlustozobá
Danish: Stornæbbet Krage, Stornæbbet Krage
Dutch: Dikbekkraai
English: Large-billed crow, Jungle crow, Indian jungle crow, Thick-billed crow
Esperanto: Grandbeka korvo
Estonian: Suurnokk-vares
Finnish: Paksunokkavaris, Paksunokkavaris
French: Corbeau à gros bec, Corbeau à gros bec, Corneille à gros bec
German: Dickschnabelkrähe, Dschungelkrähe
Hill Mari: Кого нерӓн карак
Hindi: करुंग काकाई Karung kakai
Hong Kong: 大嘴烏鴉
Hungarian: Dzsungelvarjú
Icelandic: Skógarkráka
Indonesian: Gagak kampung, Burung gagak kampung
Italian: Corvo beccogrosso, Cornacchia della giungla
Japanese (Kanji): 嘴太烏 - 嘴太鴉 - 山烏 - 山鴉
Japanese (romaji): Hashi-buto garasu, Hashibutogarasu, Yama-garasu
Japanese: ハシブトガラス
Java: Gagak
Kalmyk: баакра
Kazakh: Үлкентұмсық қарға
Kirghiz: чоң тумшук карга
Korean: 큰부리까마귀, 큰부리까마귀
Latvian: Dižknābja vārna
Lithuanian: Didžiasnapė varna, Storasnapė varna
Malakand: کاغه
Malayalam: ബലിക്കാക്ക
Malaysia: Burung gagak Paruh besar, Gagak paruh besar
Mongolian: хэрээ
Nepali: कालो काग
Norwegian: Tykknebbkråke
Pashto: کاغه
Persian: کلاغ جنگلی نوکبزرگ - کلاغ جنگلی نوکبزرگ
Pinyin: Dà zuǐ wū-yā, Jù-zuǐ yā
Polish: Wrona wielkodzioba, Wrona wielkodzioba
Portuguese: Corvo-de-bico-grosso, Corvo-de-bico-grosso, Gralha-de-bico-grosso, Corvo-de-bico-grossudo
Russian: Большеклювая ворона - Большеклювая ворона
Serbian: прашумска врана
Sinhala: ගම් කපුටා
Slovak: Vrana hrubozobá
Slovenian: Velekljuna vrana
Spanish: Cuervo picudo, Cuervo picudo, Cuervo de la selva
Swedish: Stornäbbad kråka, Djungelkråka
Taiwan: 巨嘴鴉
Tamil: அண்டங்காக்கை
Tatar: зур томшыклы карга
Thai: อีกา - อีกาปากหนา
Turkish: Iri gagalı karga, Kalın gagalı karga
Ukrainian: Ворона великодзьоба, Ворона великодзьоба
Vietnamese: Chim Ác đen, Chim Quạ đen, Quạ đen
Welsh: Brân y Goedwig

Aryo Bandoro
Dlium TheDlium
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