House Crow caching meat

on 13th July 2009

Samson Tan was at Singapore’s offshore island of Pulau Ubin some weeks ago when he observed a House Crow (Corvus splendens) perching on a branch of a leafless tree eating a piece of meat (above left). After eating enough, it placed the remaining piece in branch fork, compacting it carefully with its bill to secure it (above right). It then left the scene (below).

Crows and ravens are known to cache food for later. Usually, they hide it in a covered site and return back later to feed on it. Should there be another bird watching, it would return and remove it to another location. In this case, the piece of meat was cached openly, easily seen by other birds and thus stolen. Was the bird inexperienced not to hide it properly?

An earlier post on crows caching fish can be seen HERE.

This post appears courtesy of Samson Tan of Manta’s Experience…”.

If you like this post please tap on the Like button at the left bottom of page. Any views and opinions expressed in this article are solely those of the authors/contributors, and are not endorsed by the Lee Kong Chian Natural History Museum (LKCNHM, NUS) or its affiliated institutions. Readers are encouraged to use their discretion before making any decisions or judgements based on the information presented.

YC Wee

Dr Wee played a significant role as a green advocate in Singapore through his extensive involvement in various organizations and committees: as Secretary and Chairman for the Malayan Nature Society (Singapore Branch), and with the Nature Society (Singapore) as founding President (1978-1995). He has also served in the Nature Reserve Board (1987-1989), Nature Reserves Committee (1990-1996), National Council on the Environment/Singapore Environment Council (1992-1996), Work-Group on Nature Conservation (1992) and Inter-Varsity Council on the Environment (1995-1997). He is Patron of the Singapore Gardening Society and was appointed Honorary Museum Associate of the Lee Kong Chian Natural History Museum (LKCNHM) in 2012. In 2005, Dr Wee started the Bird Ecology Study Group. With more than 6,000 entries, the website has become a valuable resource consulted by students, birdwatchers and researchers locally and internationally. The views and opinions expressed in this article are his own, and do not represent those of LKCNHM, the National University of Singapore or its affiliated institutions.

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