Differences between Crow and Flamingo

Crow and Flamingo are two classes of birds that belong to the Corvidae and Phoenicopteridae families respectively.

Crow is a large bird with incredible intelligence. It is characterized by shiny black plumage and dark legs. Its beak, eyes, wings, and tail are all black. The bird has four toes on each foot. Crows are particularly known for their cleverness. They have great discerning abilities and have excellent self-control. They can make their own tools, solve problems, remember faces, mimic sounds, and prank other animals. They are also trainable. There are around 40 species of crows across the world.

Considered a symbol of beauty, Flamingos are admired for their pink feathers, slender legs, S-shaped neck, large wings, orange-colored eyes, and graceful gait. They are wading birds that include six species like Greater Flamingo, Andean Flamingo, and Caribbean Flamingo.

Where are Crow and Flamingo found?

The natural habitat of Crows include grasslands, forests, mountains, agricultural regions, and deserts. They like locations where there are trees. However, these birds are highly adaptable and exist everywhere. They are common sight even in big cities. Crows can be found in all parts of the world. The exceptions are South America and Antarctica.

Flamingos live in large and saline lakes, lagoons, and shallow waters. They can be found in tropical and subtropical regions of the world. They exist in parts of USA, southern Europe, southwestern Asia, and coasts of Africa. The most widespread species is the Greater Flamingo, which can be found in southern Europe, Africa, India, and few other parts of Asia.

What do Crow and Flamingo eat?

Crows are omnivores. They are both predators and scavengers. They can eat anything. They eat rodents, reptiles, small mammals, worms, insects, and eggs besides grains, fruits, nuts, and human food.

Flamingos are omnivores. They eat algae, crustaceans, diatoms, mollusks, larvae, shrimps, small fish, and insects. The diet of Flamingos consists of immense amount of beta carotene, hence the rich pink color of their plumage, face, and legs. Flamingos look for food in shallow waters, putting their bill under water and raking the water bed with their feet. They are capable of holding their breath while they put their heads inside water in search of food. They turn their head upside down to drain the muddy water through the comb-like structures in their bill.

Here are a few pointers about the eating patterns between Crow and Flamingo

• Both Crow and Flamingo eat Fish.
• Crow do eat Frogs while Flamingo may not eat Frogs.
• Crow do eat Lizards while Flamingo may not eat Lizards.
• Crow do eat Snakes while Flamingo may not eat Snakes.
• Crow do eat Turtles while Flamingo may not eat Turtles.
• Crow do eat Squirrels while Flamingo may not eat Squirrels.
• Gophers are commonly eaten by Crow while Flamingo do not eat Gophers.
• Baby Ducks are commonly eaten by Crow while Flamingo do not eat Baby Ducks.
• Crow do eat Mice while Flamingo may not eat Mice.

Size of Crow and Flamingo?

When it comes to size, The size of crows varies for different species. Jackdaw Crow is the smallest with a length of 13-15 inches and wingspan of 27 inches. Thick-billed Raven is the largest among the species. It is 28 inches long with a wingspan of 45 inches.. Flamingos are usually three to five feet tall. They have a wingspan of 2.9 to 3.2 feet. The Greater Flamingo are the largest among Flamingo species with a height of 3.6-4.9 feet.

Thick-billed Raven is the largest among crow species. It weighs 2.5-3.3 pounds. On the other hand, the weight of Jackdaw Crow, the smallest Crow, is eight ounces. while The weight of Flamingos varies as per the species. The average weight is 4.4-9.9 kilograms.

Where do Crow and Flamingo nest?

Crows build their nests in colonies. The male and female partners start building their nest about a month before the breeding season. Their offspring from previous breeding seasons assist them in nest building. The nests are constructed intellectually, with stronger material laid at the bottom for reinforcement. Crows use all kinds of material available around them to construct the nests. They would include twigs, sticks, hay, plant material, aluminium and copper wire, plastic threads, and wood pieces. The nests are usually placed in tall trees and hidden between trunks for improved safety. However, in cities, crows make their nests in inaccessible parts of tall buildings and billboards. The female incubates the eggs for about 18 days, during which time her partner and other offspring feed her. The newly hatched chicks fly when they are about four weeks old but continue to be fed by their parents and siblings for a longer time. The younger ones live with their parents until they start breeding on their own and sometimes even until they are five years old.

Flamingos build their nest by making a mound from mud and grass. The mound has to be strong enough to withstand any flooding or heat from the ground. Both male and female partners construct it by shoving mud with their bill and feet. The nests are usually located closer to water bodies. The female lays one egg a year. Both partners incubate the egg for 27-31 days. The younger ones have white feathers until they attain maturity at around two years. They fledge when they are about nine to 13 weeks old.

How long do Crow and Flamingo live?

The average lifespan of Crows is 11-15 years in the wild and over 20-30 years in captivity. Again, this is dependent on the species and the location they live in. Crows in North America are known to live over 30 years.

The average lifespan of Flamingos is 30-40 years. The oldest Flamingo lived till the age of 83 years at the Adelaide Zoo in Australia. It died in January 2014.

Are Crow or Flamingo migratory birds?

Crows are partially migratory. Those in southern hemisphere are mostly residents. While some birds migrate short distances during winters, some others stay put even in frigid temperatures. Some of them may migrate to breed and some may travel to escape increased urbanization.

Flamingos are non-migratory birds. However, climatic conditions like rise in water levels, drought, cold winters, and freezing of lakes at higher altitudes may compel them to relocate. The place where they migrate to depends on the direction of the wind. Additionally, Flamingos prefer to travel in the night. Flamingos living in the northern parts of Asia migrate in large numbers to India and Iran during winters. In Europe, they either go to Spain, Tunisia or Turkey. In America, the birds migrate only short distances in search of food.

Do Crow and Flamingo fly in flocks?

A flock of Crows is called a murder. Crows are sociable birds. They live in groups of varying sizes and always roost in flocks. The birds also have their own families consisting of two to 15 members. Different families communicate and cooperate with each other.

A group of Flamingos is called flamboyance. These birds are extremely gregarious. They always live in groups of a few tens and even up to 350. Their larger colonies can even have a thousand birds and are known to be noisy. Flamingos eat and roost in groups. They also breed in flocks. This arrangement helps them stay safe from predators – while some birds have their head bent under water for hunting, others keep guard. According to research, Flamingos make long lasting friends and also have enemies.

Are Crow or Flamingo protected?

Crows are protected in many countries under various schemes and laws for wildlife conservation and protection of migratory birds. Harming Crows or their nests is a punishable offence in these places. However, in countries like Canada there is no law to protect Crows.

The US Migratory Bird Act protects Greater, Chilean, and Caribbean Flamingos. They are protected partially or completely in parts of Africa, Europe, and Asia.

Are Crow or Flamingo endangered?

Crows are not endangered birds although their numbers are reducing owing to habitat loss, persecution by farmers, and widespread urbanization. The Hawaiian Crow is extinct in the wild. Restoration activities to increase their population is in progress. Similarly, numbers of Mariana Crow are dropping since 1960s with only a few of them remaining now. They are listed as critically endangered. Efforts to conserve them are underway.

Flamingos are not endangered birds. Nevertheless, there is consensus that their population is on a decline owing to habitat destruction, poaching, hunting for feathers, environmental changes, and pollutants in their water habitats. The Chilean and James Flamingos are considered threatened by the International Union for Conservation of Nature.

Can Crow and Flamingo fly?

Crows usually fly along the same lines every day. They are joined by their flocks as they fly for hunting or towards their roosting sites. They can fly at a speed of 30-60 miles an hour. During migration, some species travel up to 1,740 miles.

Flamingos like to fly when the sky is clear and tailwinds are encouraging. During the day, they fly at high altitudes – as much as 15,000 feet above sea level. They fly long distances during migration, flying at speeds of 31-37 miles an hour and covering distances of nearly 375 miles in one night.

Can Crow and Flamingo swim?

Crows are not waterbirds. They do not have webbed feet and their body structure does not allow them to swim. They may be able to float on shallow waters by flapping their wings.

Flamingos generally wade through water with the help of their long legs. However, in deeper waters they swim on the surface of water with their webbed feet.

Mating patterns among Crow and Flamingo

Crows reach sexual maturity when they are two to four years old. The mating displays generally take place on the ground. The male bird ruffles his feathers and makes bowing movements while facing the female. He also makes soft coos to attract her attention. Most partners share their mating territories with their children from previous breeding seasons. The female usually lays two to six eggs in a clutch. The eggs hatch after about 18 days.

Flamingos attain sexual maturity at the age of three to six, by which time the white baby feathers have turned completely pink. In the breeding season, the male and female Flamingos perform sophisticated group dances to attract partners. The birds engage in mating displays that start with the head flag, involving loud calls and vigorous movement of the head. The displays will also include bowing, stretching of neck, and feather movements. Mating occurs in the water. Partners collaborate to construct the nests and jointly incubate the eggs.

When is the mating season for Crow and Flamingo ?

The mating season for Crows is usually March-July. It varies slightly in different continents.

There is no particular mating season for Flamingos. They breed at any time of the year when water levels, climatic conditions, and availability of food are supportive. It is observed that Flamingos generally breed when rainfall is adequate, which also means that food supply during the period is good enough.

Do Crow and Flamingo mate for life?

Crows are monogamous. They mate with the same partner each year. Only in the case of death or indisposition of one partner does the other seek a different mate.

The bonding between Flamingo partners is known to be strong. Therefore, they may be monogamous. However, some of them also change partners every season.

How do Crow and Flamingo sleep?

Crows usually roost in colonies. They sleep on top of tree while standing up. The birds generally sleep when the sun sets and wake up little before sunrise.

Flamingos sleep while standing on one leg and resting their heads on their backs. The ligaments and muscles in the leg can lock to help the bird stay in one position while asleep. They sleep for about three hours at a stretch, be it day or night.

Can Crow and Flamingo be eaten?

Crows are eaten in some cultures. Native Americans and Lithuanians eat them in frenzy. Eating Crow meat is permitted in many countries across the world.

In ancient times people ate Flamingos and their eggs. The tongues of Flamingos were considered a delicacy. Romans are known to have consumed the birds by boiling them with wine and spices. However, Flamingos are no longer eaten. Conservation and protection laws also do not permit it.

Can you hunt Crow or Flamingo?

Crows are hunted for different reasons, such as for sport and meat. They are also killed by farmers for destroying their crops. The birds are not protected everywhere. Countries like the USA allow killing of Crows with a permit or outside of the nesting season.

Hunting of Flamingos was rampant. People in earlier times killed them for their meat and feather. However, modern laws do not allow hunting or trading of Flamingos.

Can you feed Crow or Flamingo?

Feeding Crows in public is discouraged in places like Singapore, Canada, and Dubai. However, feeding Crows is a ritualistic practise in some cultures of south Asia. In captivity, Crows are given worms, mice, eggs, and meat.

Feeding Flamingos in public places is not permitted in many countries like Singapore and USA. At the zoos, Flamingos are given food rich in carotenoids to avoid fading of their pink color. Therefore, the feed will include shrimps, crustaceans, and clams.