Pest Bird Species - Pied Crow

The Pied Crow is becoming an increasingly common and abundant resident pest.

Forages mainly on the ground or litter bins. By and large a scavenger, can catch small birds in flight.

Usually in pairs or small flocks and roosts mainly in trees.

Habitat

• Farmland, savanna, urban areas, rubbish dumps and verges of roads and railways.
  
• Ledges and trees.

Breeding

• Roosts in trees, telephone poles or windmill platforms and rare occasions on rock ledges.
  
• Clutch: 4-5 eggs.

Damage

• Damage maize crops by perching on stalks
  
• Digs up sown grain
  
• Injures small sick or young calves
  
• Noisy bird
  
• Carries bacterial diseases like cholera caused by ectoparasites
  
• Uric acids in faeces are highly corrosive.
  
• Very intelligent – well known thieves of various items
  
• Faeces are the main cause of various bacterial diseases

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