Probability of Synanthropic Corvid Presence in the Western United States

Model of habitat utilization by synanthropic avian predators: common ravens (Corvus corax), American crows (Corvus brachyrhynchos), and black-billed magpies (Pica hudsonia). The former two species show increasing nation-wide population trends, and common ravens in the Mojave desert have been shown to have detrimental effects on threatened desert tortoise (Gopherus agassizii) populations. Power lines are used by common ravens and other raptors for nesting and as hunting perches. Linear features such as railroads, primary and secondary roads, and irrigation channels often serve as travel routes for these predators, and expand their movements into previously unused regions. Numbers of synanthropic avian predators increase...

Tags: American Crow, Arizona, Black-billed Magpie, California, Colorado, All tags... Common Raven, Corvid, Corvus brachyrhynchos, Corvus corax, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon, Pica hudsonia, Presence, Risk, United States, Utah, Washington, Wyoming, Fewer tags