Photo: Rhododendrites / CC BY-SA 4.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
Fish Crow
Corvus ossifragus
Fish Crow (Corvus ossifragus) — Crows, Jays & Magpies of North America.
Found across 14 guides in our atlas — open any for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.
The Fish Crow (Corvus ossifragus) is a member of the Corvidae family found in North America. Adults weigh 285 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 ossifragus
Quick facts
- Weight
- 285 g
- Diet
- Omnivores
- Family
- Corvidae
- Order
- Passeriformes
- Habitat
- Wetland, lake & coast
How to identify
Similar birds
Least Concern
Least Concern
Least Concern
Least Concern
Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Fish Crow is a omnivore — it takes a broad, omnivorous diet of both plant and animal foods.
Behaviour
A bird of coastal habitats, it forages mainly on the ground.
Migration
The Fish Crow is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
The Fish Crow (Corvus ossifragus) belongs to the Corvidae family of the order Passeriformes. It is found across North America. Its distribution covers NA e, se USA.
It is a large bird. Adults weighs around 285 g, with a wing length of about 27.7 cm and a tail of around 15.7 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 971,000 km².
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Fish Crow?
The Fish Crow is a large bird that weighs around 285 g.
Where does the Fish Crow live?
The Fish Crow is found across North America with a range covering NA e, se USA, where it is associated with wetlands, lakes and other open water.
What family does the Fish Crow belong to?
The Fish Crow (Corvus ossifragus) belongs to the Corvidae family, in the order Passeriformes.
What does the Fish Crow eat?
The Fish Crow is a omnivore — it takes a broad, omnivorous diet of both plant and animal foods.
Does the Fish Crow migrate?
The Fish Crow is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
Is the Fish 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 Fish Crow make?
1 real field recording of the Fish Crow — including its call — can be played in the Songs & calls section on this page, credited to the recordist who captured it.
How large is the Fish Crow's range?
The Fish Crow has a mapped global range of about 971,000 km².
Conservation
Every bird benefits from bird-safe windows, native plants, and keeping cats indoors. Small changes at home add up to real protection.
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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.