Page 640 - Hand rearing birds second

641

42

Corvids

Elaine Friedman

Introduction

Corvids are highly intelligent birds with well-developed social skills. They show anger, fear,
jealousy, and the ability to deceive, which allows them to mask a physical problem. They are
excellent observers and quick to notice any difference from the norm. They exhibit food prefer-
ences and have a wide range of personality traits. In order to successfully raise or rehabilitate
corvid species, one must be a good observer and make judgment calls based on the history, body
language, behavior, and physical condition of each individual bird. The caregiver must be able to
adapt a set of instructions to each bird’s particular needs. For example, too much food gavaged or
force-fed to a weakened bird will be regurgitated and possibly aspirated.
These birds operate not only on instinct but also by the learned experiences they have had in
their life. If they have never experienced red berries or a white mouse in their diet, putting this in
their food bowl might cause them not to eat at all. And if as a juvenile they never see natural foods
in their diet, they might starve, once released, before locating food. These are birds that express
thoughts and intentions in their vocalizations, feather position, and body language, Plan to
research corvid natural history in more detail than presented here. This chapter provides
guidelines and insight to help you make educated decisions on how to proceed in raising an injured
or orphaned corvid.

Natural History

The family Corvidae are members of the order Passeriformes, and include the largest of the
songbirds, which are perching birds with three toes in front and one long toe behind. These birds
are ruled less by instinct and more by their superior mental capabilities than other bird species.
There are 20 species of corvids grouped in 8 genera, including ravens, crows, magpies, jays, and
Clark’s Nutcracker, within the borders of the United States, with approximately 134 species
worldwide (Gill and Donsker 2019). Protected by the United States federal government,
corvids are included in the laws pertaining to migratory birds even though many members of the
various corvid species do not migrate but may simply relocate to follow ample food supplies. It is
illegal to keep a corvid as a pet.

Hand-Rearing Birds, Second Edition. Edited by Rebecca S. Duerr and Laurie J. Gage.
© 2020 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Published 2020 by John Wiley & Sons, Inc.