Movements and Habitat Use of the Torresian Crow in a Subtropical Suburban Environment

Abstract

SummaryWe studied the movements and habitat use of Torresian Crows Corvus orru in Brisbane, Australia, between December 1991 and December 1994. Home ranges were 5–2246 ha in area, and overlapped with each other and with sightings of 38 wing-tagged crows. Home ranges of radio-tracked crows were elongated, with roosts and centres of activity near the perimeters of these home ranges. Crows were radio-tracked for 1–5 weeks during which time there was relatively little change in the size, shape or location of their home ranges. Crows tended to move greater distances on days after nights spent at large roosts, but the correlation was not significant. Crows significantly preferred park and edge habitats to forest and suburban habitats, presumably because these areas provide resources for feeding and roosting.