Corvidae
カラス科
karasu ka

General

Information is from dictionaries and other sources. Species list may not be current. Korean glosses are tentative. Comments and corrections welcome. Hover over Green Lettering Green lettering at this site hides a tool tip with glosses, further explanations, etc. Hover cursor to reveal. to see additional information.

The crows, the magpies, and (to a lesser extent) the jays have familiar vernacular names. These include:

1. カラス karasu is the Japanese name for the crows, usually found as ガラス -garasu in combination. There is a choice of Chinese character to write this word, either 烏 or 鴉. Both mean 'crow' in Chinese. There is no established etymology for カラス karasu. It is possibly based on the colour black 黒 kuro, or it may be an onomatopoeic representation of the crow's call (カーカー kākā or カーラー kārā), with the addition of ス -su, an old suffix used for some birds.

The Nutcracker (Nucifraga) is also identified as a kind of 'crow', being called ホシガラス hoshi-garasu 'starry crow', written 星烏 in Chinese characters.

2. The Magpie (Pica pica) is known as カササギ kasasagi, written 鵲 in Chinese characters. The etymology is possibly kasa (the sound of magpies' chatter) + 噪 sawagi meaning 'to be noisy'. Arai Hakuseki's etymological work Tōga (東雅, an 'Eastern version' of the Chinese Erya 爾雅), suggested that カサ kasa was a modified form of Silla Korean kashi.

3. The Azure-winged Magpie (Cyanopica cyanus / cyana) is known as the オナガ o-naga 'long tail', written with the characters 尾長 'tail-long'.

4. The Eurasian Jay is known as the カケス kake-su, written with the two characters 懸巣 'hanging nest'. The Japanese have also coined a separate character, , to write the word. Despite the character-based etymology, it appears likely that カケ kake is onomatopoeic, based on the bird's cry, with the addition of ス -su, an old suffix used for some birds.

CULTURAL

In haiku, the Jackaw is known as the かんがらす kan-garasu (寒鴉) or 'cold crow', also ふゆがらす fuyu-garasu (冬鴉) 'winter crow'. It is a season word for winter. As winter grew colder, jackdaws ventured near human habitation in their search for food and and made a pest of themselves.

鵲 kasasagi is a haiku season word for autumn.

Some Japanese expressions relating to corvids:

烏の足跡 karasu no ashi-ato 'crow's footprints' refers to the wrinkles at the corners of the eyes that come with aging.

烏の行水 karasu no gyōzui 'a crow's bath' refers to a very quick bath.

烏が鵜の真似 karasu ga u no mane 'crow imitating a cormorant' refers to what happens when one tries to exceed one's abilities -- total failure.

烏の髪 karasu no kami 'crow's hair' refers to jet-black hair.

Species names

SCIENTIFIC & WESTERN		JAPANESE		CHINESE			KOREAN
Cyanopica
Latin	Eng, Fr, Ger, Ru	Japanese	Other J	Chinese	Chinese (Taiwan)	Other Ch	Korean
Cyanopica cyanus Cyanopica cyana	Azure-winged magpie Pie bleue Blauelster Голубая сорока	オナガ (尾長) o-naga 'long-tail'		灰喜鹊 (灰喜鵲) huī xǐ-què 'grey magpie'		蓝膀鹊 (藍膀鵲) lán-bàng què 'blue-winged magpie' 蓝膀香鹊 (藍翅香鵲) lán-bǎng xiāng què 'blue-winged fragrant magpie' 蓝膀喜鹊 (藍翅喜鵲) lán-bǎng xǐ què 'blue-winged magpie' 山喜鹊 (山喜鵲) shān xǐ-què 'mountain-magpie' (vernacular) (35) 灰喜鹊 (灰喜鵲) huī xǐ-què 'grey mountain-magpie' (vernacular) (35) 蓝鹊 (藍鵲) lán-què 'blue-magpie' (35, from Zool. Nomen.) 长尾鹊 (長尾鵲) cháng-wěi què 'long-tailed magpie' (35, from Zool. Nomen.) 鸢喜鹊 (鳶喜鵲) yuān xǐ-què 'kite magpie' 长尾巴郎 (長尾巴郎) cháng-wěibā láng 'long-tailed fellow' 马尾鹊 (馬尾鵲) mǎ-wěi què 'horse-tailed magpie' (Baoding vernacular) (35)	물까치 mul-kkachi 'water magpie'
Garrulus
Latin	Eng, Fr, Ger, Ru	Japanese	Other J	Chinese	Chinese (Taiwan)	Other Ch	Korean
Garrulus glandarius	Eurasian jay Jay Geai des chênes Eichelhäher Сойка	カケス (懸巣 ~ ) kake-su 'hang-nest'	カシドリ (橿鳥 ~ 樫鳥) kashi-dori 'oak bird' ヤマガラス (山烏 ~ 山鴉) yama-garasu 'mountain crow' (also used for rook and large-billed crow)	松鸦 (松鴉) sōng-yā 'pine crow'	(松鸦) 松鴉 sōng-yā 'pine crow'	橿鸟 (橿鳥) jiāng-niǎo 'oak bird' 㭴鸟 (樫鳥) jiān-niǎo 'oak bird' 塞皋 (塞皋) sāigāo 'saigao' (35, from Zool. Nomen.) 屋鸟 (屋鳥) wū-niǎo 'room/house bird' 山和尚 (山和尚) shān héshang 'mountain monk' (also used for the Hoopoe) 松鸦 (松鴉) sōng yā 'pine crow' (vernacular, early ornithological) (35)	어치 eochi 'jay'
Garrulus lidthi	Lidth's jay Purple jay Geai de Lidth Prachthäher Пурпурная сойка	ルリカケス (瑠璃懸巣 ~ 琉璃懸巣) ruri kake-su 'lapis lazuli hang-nest'		琉球松鸦 (琉球松鴉) liúqiú sōng-yā 'Ryukyu pine crow'
Pica
Latin	Eng, Fr, Ger, Ru	Japanese	Other J	Chinese	Chinese (Taiwan)	Other Ch	Korean
Pica pica	Eurasian Magpie Common Magpie Black-billed magpie Magpie Pie bavarde Elster Сорока	カササギ (鵲) kasasagi 'magpie'	カチガラス (勝ち烏) kachi-garasu 'winning crow' チョウセンガラス (朝鮮烏) chōsen garasu 'Korean crow' コウライガラス (高麗烏) kōrai garasu 'Korean crow'	喜鹊 (喜鵲) xǐ-què 'magpie'	(喜鹊) 喜鵲 xǐ-què 'magpie'	鹊 (鵲) què 'magpie' (35, from Zool. Nomen.) 喜雀 (喜雀) xǐ-què 'auspicious sparrow' (written variation) 干鹊 (乾鵲) gān què 'dry magpie' (35, from Materia Medica) 神女 (神女) shén-nǚ 'goddess' (35, from Materia Medica) 飞驳鸟 (飛駁鳥) fēi-bó-niǎo 'flying variegated bird' (35, from Materia Medica) 野鹊子 (野鵲子) yě quèzi 'wild magpie'	까치 kkachi 'magpie'
Nucifraga
Latin	Eng, Fr, Ger, Ru	Japanese	Other J	Chinese	Chinese (Taiwan)	Other Ch	Korean
Nucifraga caryocatactes	Eurasian nutcracker Spotted nutcracker Nutcracker Cassenoix moucheté Tannenhäher Кедровка	ホシガラス (星烏 ~ 星鴉) hoshi garasu 'starred crow'	ダケガラス (岳烏) dake-garasu 'mountain peak crow' タケガラス (岳烏) take-garasu 'mountain peak crow'	星鸦 (星鴉) xīng yā 'starred crow'	(星鸦) 星鴉 xīng yā 'starred crow'	星鸟 (星鳥) xīng-niǎo 'star-bird' (northern) (35, from Zool. Nomen.) 葱花儿 (蔥花兒) cōng-huār 'onion flower' (northern) (35) 葱头翁 (蔥头翁) cōng-tóu-wēng 'onion-headed grandfather' (northern) (35)	잣까마귀 jat-kkamagwi 'pine-nut crow'
Corvus
Latin	Eng, Fr, Ger, Ru	Japanese	Other J	Chinese	Chinese (Taiwan)	Other Ch	Korean
Corvus dauuricus	Daurian jackdaw Choucas de Daourie Elsterdohle Даурская галка	コクマルガラス (黒丸烏 ~ 黒丸鴉) koku-maru garasu 'black circle crow'	カンガラス (寒烏 ~ 寒鴉) kan-garasu 'cold crow' フユガラス (冬烏 ~ 冬鴉) fuyu-garasu 'winter crow'	达乌里寒鸦 (達烏里寒鴉) dáwūlǐ hán-yā 'Daurian cold crow'	(东方寒鸦) 東方寒鴉 dōngfāng hán-yā 'eastern cold crow' Taiwan formerly: (寒鸦) 寒鴉 hán-yā 'cold crow'	Taiwan formerly: (寒鴉) 寒鸦 hán-yā 'cold crow' (general) (35) 慈鸟 (慈烏) cí wū 'kind crow' (35, from Zool. Nomen.) (also used for Corvus monedula) 小山老鸹 (小山老鴰) xiǎo shān lǎo-guā 'small mountain crow' (general) (35) (also used for Corvus monedula) 麦鸦 (麥鴉) mài-yā 'grain crow' (southern vernacular) (35) 燕乌 (燕烏) yàn-wū 'swallow crow' (general) (35, from Zool Nomen.) 鹎 (鵯) bēi '(now used for the bulbuls)' (Erya) (35) 鶋鹎鸟 (鶋鵯鳥) 'jū-bēi niǎo' 'jubei bird' (Erya) (35) 孝鸦 (孝鴉) xiào yā 'filial crow'	갈까마귀 gal-kkamagwi 'autumn ? crow'
Corvus monedula	Eurasian Jackdaw or Western Jackdaw Jackdaw Choucas des tours Dohle Галка	ニシコクマルガラス (西黒丸烏 ~ 西黒丸鴉) nishi koku-maru garasu 'western black circle crow'		寒鸦 (寒鴉) hán-yā 'cold crow'		慈鸟 (慈烏) cí wū 'kind crow' (31) (also used for Corvus dauuricus) 小山老鸹 (小山老鴰) xiǎo shān lǎo-guā 'small mountain crow' (also used for Corvus dauuricus) 孝鸦 (孝鴉) xiào yā 'filial crow'
Corvus frugilegus	Rook Corbeau freux Saatkrähe Грач	ミヤマガラス (深山烏 ~ 深山鴉) mi-yama garasu 'deep mountain crow'	ヤマガラス (山烏 ~ 山鴉) yama-garasu 'mountain crow' (also used for 'large-billed crow' and 'jay')	秃鼻乌鸦 (禿鼻烏鴉) tū bí wū-yā 'bald-nosed crow'	(秃鼻鸦) 禿鼻鴉 tū bí yā 'bald-nosed crow'	山乌 (山烏) shān-wū 'mountain crow' (35, from Zool. Nomen.) 山老公 (山老公) shān lǎo-gōng 'mountain husband' (vernacular) (35) 老鸹 (老鴰) lǎo-guā 'old crow' (vernacular) (35) 风鸦 (風鴉) fēng-yā 'wind crow' (southern) (35)	떼까마귀 tte-kkamagwi 'flock ? crow'
Corvus corax	Common raven Raven Grand Corbeau Kolkrabe Ворон	ワタリガラス (渡り烏 ~ 渡り鴉) watari-garasu 'passage crow'		渡鸦 (渡鴉) dù yā 'passage crow'		老鸹 (老鴰) lǎo-guā 'old crow' (vernacular) (35) 渡鸦 (渡鴉) dù yā 'passage crow' (early ornithological) (35, from Zool. Nomen.)	큰까마귀 keun-kkamagwi 'large crow'
Corvus corone	Carrion crow Corneille noire Aaskrähe Черная ворона	ハシボソガラス (嘴細烏 ~ 嘴細鴉) hashi-boso garasu 'slender-billed crow'		小嘴乌鸦 (小嘴烏鴉) xiǎo-zuǐ wū-yā 'small-billed crow' Corvus cornix 冠小嘴乌鸦 (冠小嘴烏鴉) guān xiǎo-zuǐ wūyā 'crested small-billed crow' (2)	(小嘴乌鸦) 小嘴烏鴉 xiǎo-zuǐ wū-yā 'small-billed crow'	鸦 (鴉) yā 'crow' (35, from Zool. Nomen.) 小嘴乌 (小嘴烏) xiǎo-zuǐ wū 'small-billed crow' (35) 老鸦 (老鴉) lǎo-yā 'old crow' (35) 老鸹 (老鴰) lǎo-guā 'old crow' (vernacular) (35) 食腐肉乌鸦 (食腐肉烏鴉) shí fǔròu wū-yā 'eat-carrion crow'	까마귀 kkamagwi 'crow'
Latin	Eng, Fr, Ger, Ru	Japanese	Other J	Chinese	Chinese (Taiwan)	Other Ch	Korean
Corvus macrorhynchos	Large-billed crow or Jungle crow Thick-billed crow Corbeau à gros bec Dickschnabelkrähe Большеклювая ворона	ハシブトガラス (嘴太烏 ~ 嘴太鴉) hashi-buto garasu 'thick-billed crow'	ヤマガラス (山烏 ~ 山鴉) yama-garasu 'mountain crow' (also used for 'rook' and 'jay')	大嘴乌鸦 (大嘴烏鴉) dà zuǐ wū-yā 'large-billed crow'	(巨嘴鸦) 巨嘴鸦 jù-zuǐ yā 'giant-billed crow'		큰부리까마귀 keun-buri-kkamagwi 'large-billed crow'

中国鸟类种和亚种分类名录大全（修订版） 郑作新 著 科学出版社 北京 2000年
A Complete Checklist of Species and Subspecies of the Chinese Birds (Revised Edition) by Cheng Tso-Hsin, Science Press, Beijing 2000

中国鸟类分类与分布名录 主编：郑光美 科学出版社 北京 2005年
A Checklist on the Classification and Distribution of the Birds of China Chief editor: Zheng Guangmei, Science Press, Beijing 2005

中国鸟类野外手册（中文版）约翰・马敬能、卡伦・菲利普斯，合作者：荷芬奇，翻译：卢和芬 湖南教育出版社 长沙 2000年
A Field Guide to the Birds of China (Chinese translation) by John MacKinnon, Karen Phillipps, in collaboration with He Fen-qi, translated by Lu Hefen, Hunan Jiaoyu Chubanshe (Hunan Educational Press) Changsha 2000

世界鸟类分类与分布名录 主编：郑光美 科学出版社 北京 2002年
A Checklist on the Classification and Distribution of the Birds of the World Chief editor: Zheng Guangmei, Science Press, Beijing 2002

世界鸟类名称（拉丁文、汉文、英文对照）第二版 郑作新等 科学出版社 北京 2002年
Birds of the World (Latin, Chinese and English Names) 2nd ed. by Cheng Tso-Hsin et al, Science Press, Beijing 2002

汉蒙名词术语分类词典（自然科学部分） Mongolian (Cyrillic): Хятад Монгол нэр томъёоны зүйл хуваасан толь (байгалийн шинжлэх ухааны бүлэг) (Chinese-Mongolian classified terminological dictionary, natural sciences part) by 《汉蒙名词术语分类词典》编纂委员会 Mongolian (Cyrillic): "Хятад Монгол нэр томъёоны зүйл хуваасан толь" найруулах комисс (Chinese-Mongolian classified terminological dictionary editorial committee), Inner Mongolian People's Press, Hohhot 1990

Chinese Birds (A Tentative List of Chinese Birds) 中國鳥類（中國鳥類目錄試編） N. Gist Gee, Lacy I. Moffett, G. D. Wilder (祁天錫, 慕維德, 萬卓志), Peiping, 1927 (reprinted 1948)