Reuse of Nest Materials by Carrion Crows Corvus corone and Jungle Crows C. macrorhynchos

Abstract

We observed that two species of crows reused nest materials. Given the conventional knowledge that crows avoid breeding in their old nests, this behavior is both novel and surprizing. Pairs removed materials from their completed nests and carried them to other sites, and there used the old materials in the construction of new nests. It is unknown whether any eggs were laid in the original nest or whether the nest was abandoned prematurely. One pair of Carrion Crows reused twigs, and two pairs of Jungle Crows reused wire-hangers and twigs for the outer shell of their nests. However, inner linings were newly obtained in all cases. These observations suggest that the reuse of nest materials by crows may be more common than was hitherto believed.