Cró
[Genus: Caróg]
A cró (/kɹoʊ/), genus Caróg, is a medium-sized perching bird1 found widespread throughout the world, except on the Great Island of Fomor and its associated islands. Crós are distinguished by their glossy black plumage, sturdy slender body, long black legs, thick neck, and small, rounded head with a strong, pointed black beak. Adult crós are approximately ½ yd. long, with a wingspan of up to 1 yd. and a short fan-shaped tail. They are one of three genera in the family Préachánacosúila, the others being the Préachán (Réavans) and the Rúcach (Rúcs). There are over 30 known species of cró.
Crós are opportunistic omnivores, surviving on berries, insects, the eggs of other birds, meat stripped from carrion or smaller animals, and even raiding grain crops, making them very unpopular among farmers. They have been known to work cooperatively to steal food from other animals such as otters, vultúrs and waterfowl. Crós feed primarily on the ground, where they can often be seen in large groups walking about purposefully. An average cró can live up to 20 years in the wild, and even longer in captivity.
Crós are very social birds, living in large, close-knit familial groups numbering from hundreds to tens of thousands2 during non-breeding months, typically near large food sources. These groups hunt and forage together, and even work in unison to defend their territories and care for their young. Despite their social nature, though, crós to not nest in colonies.
During breeding season the mating pairs each build their own nests of sticks and twigs, separate from the rest and usually high in the treetops.3 A typical clutch consists of 4 - 5 eggs, green to dark green in color, with dark speckles. Young crós may spend up to six years with their parents before setting off on their own to breed. Each year, these multi-generational cró families return to their night-roosting groups as winter approaches.
Although crós make a wide variety of vocalizations,4 their calls are distinctive and easily recognizable. The most common is the well-known "caw" or “awk,” usually repeated three times. They also make a variety of other sounds, including rattles, coos, purring sounds, and clear notes, and have even been known to imitate the human voice. They have also been observed to respond to the calls of other species.
Crós often vocalize when taking flight from a perch. In the air, crós exhibit a unique flight style, characterized by constant moderately paced flapping, rarely if ever interrupted by soaring. Their wings are broad and rounded, with the feathers of their wingtips spread like fingers.
Crós are highly intelligent and adaptive, and are believed to be self-aware. In addition to working cooperatively for common defense, securing food and rearing offspring, crós have been known to work cooperatively with large predator species, calling out to identify injured prey so the predators can kill them and open them up, allowing the crós to feed as well.
Stories of crós able to count to four or five or even seven have been told since early times.5 They have been observed using small sticks as tools and even fashioning tools out of garden wire. For centuries there have been reports of crós leaving trinkets and other objects as gifts for humans. It is said they can recognize human faces, and even themselves in a mirror.
When a cró dies, the other crós in the area will surround its remains, in a sort of funeral ritual. At first, the living crós simply observe the dead cró quietly. Then at some point they begin to call out their familiar “caw” repeatedly, individually at first. Others quickly join in, until a crescendo of calling birds develops. After a few minutes of this the vocalizations stop abruptly, and the living crós disperse.
Crós have played an important role in human culture. In Kiltic mythology they are associated with war and death. In Frankish and Jarmenic cultures they are viewed as tricksters, liars and common thieves. The ancient Geuldali of southern Heremonia believed crós were messengers of the gods. In the East, crós have been domesticated as pets for centuries, duty bound to keep watch over the home in their master’s absence, and to report any trespassers upon his return.
Worldwide, the most abundant cró species is the common cró (Caróg coitianta), which is sometimes further differentiated as the western common cró (Caróg coitianta thiar) and the eastern common cró (Caróg coitianta thoir). Other widespread species include the carrion cró (Caróg splíonaí), the short billed cró (Caróg billegearr), the white cloaked cró (Caróg clócabán), the large billed cró (Caróg billemór), the blue winged cró (Caróg sciathángorm) and the strange cró (Caróg iontach).
Crós are opportunistic omnivores, surviving on berries, insects, the eggs of other birds, meat stripped from carrion or smaller animals, and even raiding grain crops, making them very unpopular among farmers. They have been known to work cooperatively to steal food from other animals such as otters, vultúrs and waterfowl. Crós feed primarily on the ground, where they can often be seen in large groups walking about purposefully. An average cró can live up to 20 years in the wild, and even longer in captivity.
Crós are very social birds, living in large, close-knit familial groups numbering from hundreds to tens of thousands2 during non-breeding months, typically near large food sources. These groups hunt and forage together, and even work in unison to defend their territories and care for their young. Despite their social nature, though, crós to not nest in colonies.
During breeding season the mating pairs each build their own nests of sticks and twigs, separate from the rest and usually high in the treetops.3 A typical clutch consists of 4 - 5 eggs, green to dark green in color, with dark speckles. Young crós may spend up to six years with their parents before setting off on their own to breed. Each year, these multi-generational cró families return to their night-roosting groups as winter approaches.
Although crós make a wide variety of vocalizations,4 their calls are distinctive and easily recognizable. The most common is the well-known "caw" or “awk,” usually repeated three times. They also make a variety of other sounds, including rattles, coos, purring sounds, and clear notes, and have even been known to imitate the human voice. They have also been observed to respond to the calls of other species.
Crós often vocalize when taking flight from a perch. In the air, crós exhibit a unique flight style, characterized by constant moderately paced flapping, rarely if ever interrupted by soaring. Their wings are broad and rounded, with the feathers of their wingtips spread like fingers.
Crós are highly intelligent and adaptive, and are believed to be self-aware. In addition to working cooperatively for common defense, securing food and rearing offspring, crós have been known to work cooperatively with large predator species, calling out to identify injured prey so the predators can kill them and open them up, allowing the crós to feed as well.
Stories of crós able to count to four or five or even seven have been told since early times.5 They have been observed using small sticks as tools and even fashioning tools out of garden wire. For centuries there have been reports of crós leaving trinkets and other objects as gifts for humans. It is said they can recognize human faces, and even themselves in a mirror.
When a cró dies, the other crós in the area will surround its remains, in a sort of funeral ritual. At first, the living crós simply observe the dead cró quietly. Then at some point they begin to call out their familiar “caw” repeatedly, individually at first. Others quickly join in, until a crescendo of calling birds develops. After a few minutes of this the vocalizations stop abruptly, and the living crós disperse.
Crós have played an important role in human culture. In Kiltic mythology they are associated with war and death. In Frankish and Jarmenic cultures they are viewed as tricksters, liars and common thieves. The ancient Geuldali of southern Heremonia believed crós were messengers of the gods. In the East, crós have been domesticated as pets for centuries, duty bound to keep watch over the home in their master’s absence, and to report any trespassers upon his return.
Worldwide, the most abundant cró species is the common cró (Caróg coitianta), which is sometimes further differentiated as the western common cró (Caróg coitianta thiar) and the eastern common cró (Caróg coitianta thoir). Other widespread species include the carrion cró (Caróg splíonaí), the short billed cró (Caróg billegearr), the white cloaked cró (Caróg clócabán), the large billed cró (Caróg billemór), the blue winged cró (Caróg sciathángorm) and the strange cró (Caróg iontach).
1 Perching birds have three toes pointing forward and one pointing back, which facilitates perching.
2 Such a large collection of crós is known as "a murder of crós."
3 For this reason, lookout structures set atop the mainmasts of old sailing ships were called “cró’s nests.”
4 Ornithologists have identified over 50 separate sounds commonly made by crós.
5 Hence the phrase “counting crós.”
Cró
Genus: CarógANIMAL SPECIES
Western Common Cró
Caróg coitianta thiar
SCIENTIFIC CLASSIFICATION
Kingdom:
Ainvithe
Phylum:
Chorda
Class:
Éana
Order:
Gealvanúnlaigh
Family:
Préachánacosúila
Genus:
Caróg
Species:
C. billegearr
C. billemór
C. clócabán
C. coitianta
C. iontach
C. sciathángorm
C. splíonaí
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