Distribution
The house crow is well-known throughout much of its natural range. It occurs in central Asia from southern coastal Iran through Pakistan, India, Tibet, Myanmar and Thailand to southern China. It also occurs in Sri Lanka and on the nearby Laccadive and Maldive islands.
Introduced populations occur in coastal areas bordering the Indian Ocean; in South Africa, Mozambique, Tanzania, Kenya, Somalia, Ethiopia, Mauritius and the Seychelle islands.
Along the Red Sea and the Suez Canal it has been introduced to Sudan, Egypt, Israel, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, the United Arab Emirates, Yemen and Oman.
Introduced populations also occur in Malaysia, Singapore, Hong Kong and the Netherlands.
Habitat
In its natural and introduced range the house crow occupies most types of urban and rural habitats including towns and cities, farmlands, forest edge, sea ports, mangroves and shorelines. It lives in close association with man and is nearly always found near human settlement.
Reproduction, food and behaviour
House crow nests are untidy platforms built of twigs and occasionally wire, usually higher than 3 m above the ground.
The nest can be built in tree forks, buildings, streetlights or pylons. The house crow is an omnivorous scavenger, eating almost anything including grains, fruits, nuts, nectar, insects, fish, and small animals. Eggs and nestlings, food scraps, garbage, offal and carrion are also eaten readily. In some countries the house crow has a role as a domestic scavenger.
This sedentary and gregarious bird has a reputation for intelligence and boldness. Small and large flocks congregate at communal roosts (several thousand birds have been recorded), and food sources at rubbish dumps, abattoirs and markets.
In the wild, the house crow lives for about 6 years but in captivity it can live for 20 years.