Habitat use by Carrion Crows Corvus corone corone and Hooded Crows C. c. cornix and their hybird in eastern Germany

Abstract

The habitat use of crow phenotypes (Carrion Crow, Hooded Crow, hybrids) was studied in the hybrid zone between Magdeburg and Dresden in eastern Germany. 1326 individuals (n = 293 hybrids, 417 Hooded Crows, 616 Carrion Crows) were sampled between 8 April and 12 July 2006. The study area was divided into eleven grid rectangles, 20 geographical minutes latitude by 32 minutes longitude in size. Carrion Crows, Hooded Crows and hybrids differed significantly in their habitat use. Carrion Crows avoided stubble fields with stubble taller than 15 cm, whereas the Hooded Crows were found significantly more frequently on those fields. Even when the stubble field data was pooled into one category, differences remained, with the Hooded Crows preferring maize stubble and the Carrion Crows avoiding it.