Feeding ecology of house crows in a high-altitude Himalayan urban landscape

House crows, known for their adaptability, thrive in urban settings by exploiting anthropogenic food sources. We explored the feeding dynamics of house crows ( Corvus splendens ) in the unique high-altitude urban environment of Srinagar, Jammu and Kashmir. Our research, conducted from July 2023 to February 2024, involved comprehensive field observations across diverse urban and semi-natural landscapes, examining the crows' dietary patterns, feeding behaviors, and group dynamics. Results indicate that house crows predominantly forage in small to medium-sized groups, with larger groups observed less frequently. These smaller groups often engage in opportunistic feeding behaviors, and prefer kitchen waste and slaughterhouse remains, which are abundant and energy-rich. Interestingly, smaller groups also showed dietary diversity by including dead animals, insects, and rats, which highlights their adaptability. Statistical analyses revealed that scavenging is the predominant feeding behavior, facilitated by the urban environment's abundant waste. However, behaviors like predation and kleptoparasitism were also noted, although less frequently. Moreover, our findings suggest that while urbanization profoundly influences crow feeding behavior, crows exhibit considerable flexibility in their feeding strategies across different urbanization levels. The analysis did not find a significant correlation between urbanization and specific feeding behaviors, which indicates an adaptive response to urban environmental conditions.