The nominate race C. s. splendens is found in Pakistan, India, Nepal and Bangladesh and has a grey neck collar.

The subspecies C. s. zugmayeri is found in the dry parts of South Asia and Iran and has a very pale neck collar.

The subspecies C. s. protegatus is found in southern India, the Maldives (sometimes separated as maledivicus) and Sri Lanka and is darker grey.

Recently, it has made its arrival in Europe and has been breeding in the Dutch harbour town Hook of Holland since 1998.

[6] In the New World, a small population of house crows is established in the area around St. Petersburg, Florida.

[11] In 2016, house crow was added to the List of Invasive Alien Species of Union concern.

The breeding population of this species is reported from Netherlands (Hoek van Holland), while individuals were seen in Belgium, Hungary, Poland and Spain.

[14] At least some trees in the local environment seem to be necessary for successful breeding although house crows occasionally nest on telephone towers.

Lewis expressed surprise at the numbers of haematozoa present in the blood of house crows from Calcutta.