Fish Crow

The Fish Crow is a corvid of the eastern and southeastern United States, closely tied to coastlines, rivers, and other waterways. It closely resembles the more widespread American Crow in plumage, being almost entirely glossy black, and the two species are best separated by voice and subtle size and shape differences rather than plumage alone.

Its range has expanded inland along river systems in recent decades, bringing it into closer contact with American Crow across a broader area.

• Body, wing, and tail feathers are entirely glossy black, showing a blue-purple sheen in good light
• Feathers are generally slightly smaller and more slender than those of the closely similar American Crow, though this difference is subtle and not always reliable on its own
• No white, barring, or other contrasting pattern is present anywhere in the plumage
• Primary flight feathers are proportionately narrower than in the American Crow in some individuals
• Because plumage is essentially identical to the American Crow, a single feather alone is rarely conclusive; call, size, and location provide the most reliable confirmation

Sexes are alike in plumage, both entirely glossy black. Juveniles are duller and somewhat browner-black before acquiring full adult gloss. A single complete molt occurs after the breeding season.

• Found along the Atlantic and Gulf coasts of the United States, and increasingly inland along major river systems
• Favors coastal areas, beaches, tidal rivers, and, increasingly, inland waterways and adjacent towns
• Largely resident, though some northern populations shift southward in winter

Fish Crows are gregarious, often foraging in groups near water, and have a broad, opportunistic diet including small aquatic animals, eggs, and various invertebrates. Their voice, a nasal, two-noted 'uh-uh' or 'ca-ha,' is the most reliable way to distinguish them from the American Crow's straightforward 'caw.' They nest colonially in trees, often near water, and defend nest sites with alarm calls.