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.