The Jamaican crow is a comparatively small corvid. It shares several key morphological features with two other West Indian species, the Cuban crow and the white-necked crow of Hispaniola, which are very closely related to it.
Region
Caribbean (Jamaica)
Typical Environment
Occurs across Jamaica from lowlands to uplands, with higher densities in hill and montane forests. It uses wet and dry limestone forests, pine and broadleaf woodlands, and forest edges. The species readily enters second-growth, plantations, and wooded agricultural areas, but generally avoids dense urban centers. It forages from the mid-canopy to the ground, moving between trees and open clearings. Nesting is typically in tall trees within forested or semi-forested landscapes.
Altitude Range
Sea level to 1800 m
Climate Zone
Tropical
Ease of Keeping
Beginner friendly: 1/5
The Jamaican crow is a comparatively small corvid endemic to Jamaica and closely related to the Cuban crow and the white-necked crow of Hispaniola. It is notably vocal, producing a variety of harsh croaks, rattles, and jabbering calls. Compared with its relatives, it has a more modest bill and subtle gloss to its dark plumage, and it often forages quietly in the mid- to upper canopy. It adapts well to forest edges and second-growth, which helps it persist despite habitat changes.
Temperament
social and alert
Flight Pattern
strong flier with steady wingbeats, occasional short glides
Social Behavior
Typically seen in pairs or small family groups, sometimes joining loose foraging parties. Pairs maintain territories during the breeding season and nest high in trees using sticks and twigs. Both parents attend the nest, and fledglings may remain with adults for a period after leaving the nest.
Migratory Pattern
Resident
Song Description
Vocal repertoire includes harsh croaks, guttural rattles, and jabbering sequences, often given in short bursts. Calls carry through forested habitats and are used for contact, alarm, and territorial advertisement.
Plumage
Uniform sooty-black to black with a slight purplish gloss; throat feathers can appear slightly shaggy.
Diet
An opportunistic omnivore that takes fruits, seeds, and a wide range of invertebrates such as beetles, caterpillars, and spiders. It also consumes small vertebrates and eggs or nestlings when available. Occasionally scavenges and may glean food from human-altered landscapes. Seasonal fruiting events can strongly influence feeding activity and group movements.
Preferred Environment
Forages in the mid- to upper canopy, along forest edges, and in clearings or plantations with scattered trees. It will also descend to the ground to probe leaf litter or inspect fallen fruit. Mixed woodland mosaics and second-growth provide abundant feeding opportunities.
