Implications of the Indian House Crow (Corvus splendens) breeding biology for sustainable and integrated population control and management

Abstract

The Indian House Crow (IHC; Corvus splendens) is one of the invasive members of the genus Corvus. As a highly adaptable species, it has expanded its range to all continents except Antarctica, causing significant social-ecological and economic impacts. Various control methods have been employed, but most have proven ineffective or unsustainable. Poisoning results in high non-target mortality, trapping is hindered by the crow’s intelligence and ability to learn to avoid traps, and shooting is complicated by its close association with human settlements. Integrated control is viewed as a promising alternative; however, its success relies on a thorough understanding of IHC breeding biology. Such knowledge is essential for predicting population growth in different environments, effectively timing the control efforts, assessing method effectiveness, and guiding both short-term and long-term management strategies. This review analyzes global differences in the breeding biology of the IHC and their implications for integrated population control. The review was deployed to collect data from the Corvid Literature-database, Google Scholar, and Scopus, evaluated according to PRISMA guidelines, and analyzed both descriptively and thematically. Results reveal regional variation in the timing of the breeding season. Nesting sites are determined more by structural features than by tree abundance. The average clutch size ranges from 3.5 to 4.5, and urban areas tend to have higher breeding success than rural areas. Overall, many aspects of the breeding biology show geographic variation, while others remain insufficiently documented. Understanding IHC breeding biology is key to effective integrated management and control of the species.