Photo: Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 3.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
Cape Crow
Corvus capensis
Cape Crow (Corvus capensis) — Crows, Jays & Magpies of Africa.
Found across 3 guides in our atlas — open any for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.
The Cape Crow (Corvus capensis) is a member of the Corvidae family found in Africa. Adults weigh 553 g. The IUCN Red List lists it as Least Concern.
Conservation status
IUCN Red List (opens in a new tab)Widespread and abundant — not currently at risk.
Where it fits
- Class Aves
- Order Passeriformes
- Family Corvidae Crows, Jays
- Genus Corvus
- Species capensis
Quick facts
- Weight
- 553 g
- Diet
- Omnivores
- Family
- Corvidae
- Order
- Passeriformes
- Habitat
- Grassland & open country
How to identify
Similar birds
Least Concern
Not Evaluated
Least Concern
Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Cape Crow is a omnivore — it takes a broad, omnivorous diet of both plant and animal foods.
Behaviour
A bird of open grassland, it forages mainly on the ground.
Migration
The Cape Crow is partially migratory: some populations move with the seasons while others stay resident year-round.
The Cape Crow (Corvus capensis) belongs to the Corvidae family of the order Passeriformes. It occurs naturally across Africa. Its distribution covers AF ne, e, s.
It is a large bird. Adults weighs around 553 g, with a wing length of about 32.2 cm and a tail of around 16.5 cm.
The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern. That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.
The species has a mapped global range of roughly 4 million km².
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Cape Crow?
The Cape Crow is a large bird that weighs around 553 g.
Where does the Cape Crow live?
The Cape Crow is found across Africa with a range covering AF ne, e, s, where it favours open grassland, scrub and lightly vegetated country.
What family does the Cape Crow belong to?
The Cape Crow (Corvus capensis) belongs to the Corvidae family, in the order Passeriformes.
What does the Cape Crow eat?
The Cape Crow is a omnivore — it takes a broad, omnivorous diet of both plant and animal foods.
Does the Cape Crow migrate?
The Cape Crow is partially migratory: some populations move with the seasons while others stay resident year-round.
Is the Cape Crow endangered?
The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.
What sound does the Cape Crow make?
1 real field recording of the Cape Crow can be played in the Songs & calls section on this page, credited to the recordist who captured it.
How large is the Cape Crow's range?
The Cape Crow has a mapped global range of about 4 million km².
Conservation
Every bird benefits from bird-safe windows, native plants, and keeping cats indoors. Small changes at home add up to real protection.
Explore more birds
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Least Concern
Least Concern
Least Concern
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Guides for this bird
Best Feeders for Jays & Larger Garden Birds
How to choose a feeder for jays and other big, bold garden birds — the styles that suit peanuts and larger food, and how to keep them from crowding your small-bird feeders. A decision framework with the species in the Birbs encyclopedia.