Adults

Description

Size:  24”

Plumage/Description:  Male and female plumage similar.  A large (bigger than a Red-tailed Hawk), stocky, all black bird with a large, powerful beak.  Larger than the American Crow which also occurs in northern Arizona.

Habitat:  Suburban, Residential, Grassland, Oak/Chaparral, Pinyon/Juniper, Ponderosa/Coniferous, Riparian/Deciduous

Time of year:  Year-round

Relative Abundance:  Common in all habitats in all seasons.

Behavior:  Playful, inquisitive, bold, masters of the sky.  Will harass (mob) larger birds of prey.  In suburban settings will dumpster dive.  In rural settings will patrol roadways looking for the latest road kill.

Diet:  Road kill, trash, garbage, baby birds, bird eggs, suet, nuts, seeds, a true omnivore and an extreme opportunists.  Will eat pretty much whatever it can find.

Similar species:  American Crow.

Best Sites:  By far one of the most common, widely distributed species in central and northern Arizona.  You will see this species everywhere you go.