These are short answers to some of the more common questions I get asked. Although many answer will apply broadly, these were written with a North American/US bias. Please feel free to suggest additional questions in the comments section.
Crow Biology
- What is the difference between a crow and a raven?
- How long do crows live?
- Can crows really talk? Do you have to fork their tongue?
- What hunts crows?
- Are crows monogamous?
- How do crows mate?
- How can you sex crows?
- Why are crows sometimes white?
Crow Behavior
- Why do I see large groups of crows flying over my house every evening?
- Do crows ever kill each other? why?
- Do crows collect shiny objects?
- Why do crows gather around their dead?
Crows and Humans
- I found a dead crow in my yard, how do I get rid of it without upsetting the crows?
- Can I get West Nile virus from touching a crow?
- Is it legal to keep pet crows?
- Are crows protected/Is it legal to kill or hunt crows?
- Why was I just attacked by a crow?
- How can I get rid of crows from my yard?
- I enjoy feeding crows, what kind of food should I offer them?
- I’ve found an orphaned crow, what should I do?
- Do crows ever bring people gifts? Can they be trained to bring money?
Crow Biology
1) What is the difference between a crow and a raven? While crows and ravens are in the same family, corvidae, and look quite similar, they are as different from one another as lions and tigers. If you’re not used to seeing ravens, the best way to tell them apart is if you’re at higher elevation or in a more rural or coastal area and find yourself thinking “that’s the biggest #$%^&*# crow I’ve ever seen!”, you’re probably looking at a raven. More scientifically, ravens have diamond shaped tails in flight, deeper almost croak-like voices and, by weight, are about twice as big as a crow.
2) How long do crows live? Once they reach sexual maturity (around 3-4 years) they are tough to take out and can live to be 14-17 years old, though cresting 20 years is not unheard of. In captivity they can live twice as long.
4) Can crows really talk? Do you have to fork their tongue? Yes, captive birds can be trained to talk, and no you don’t have to mutilate them to do it!
5) What hunts crows? Red-tailed hawks, owls, raccoons and cats will all gladly take down an adult crow if given the opportunity.
7) Are crows monogamous? To answer this question I’ll take a page from The Savage Lovecaste’s Dan Savage and describe them as “monogamish.” More scientifically, we describe them as being socially monogamous but genetically “promiscuous”. This means they generally stay with one partner for life, but behavioral observations and a genetic analyses in New York populations indicated that attempted extra-pair copulations are not uncommon, occurring in 36% of pairs, and resulting in 19% of hatchlings. Other populations are not reported to show much promiscuity, however. You can learn more by checking out this post on crow families.
9) How do crows mate? Like most birds, crows do not have an external penis (ducks are a notable exception). Not only do they not have a penis, but they only have one opening for all things related to reproduction and waste elimination called the cloaca. Crow sex consists simply of a pair rubbing their cloacas together for about 3-10 seconds during which time the sperm are transferred from the male to the female.
10) How can you sex crows? Assuming you’re not a trained veterinarian or have access to blood sampling/analysis tools, you can’t by just visuals alone. Males tend to be bigger but that’s not reliable enough to go off. If you’re patient, it will become very evident once the breeding season rolls around and one starts spending most of its time on the nest. Supposedly, the “knock” call is female-specific.
11) Why are crows sometimes white? There are many reasons. Check out this post for more information.
Crow Behavior
1)Why do I see large groups of crows flying over my house every evening? Like many other species of birds, crows and ravens engage in what’s called communal roosting. This is where groups of both kin and unrelated individuals flock to a particular location for, in part, the security of safety in numbers while they sleep. Crows can gather in the tens, even hundreds of thousands when they do this. Although roosting locations may change periodically, for the most part the crows you’re seeing are heading to the same roosting spot every night.
2) Do crows ever kill each other? Why? Yes, crows do kill other crows. Crows fight with each other a lot, both within their family groups and outside of them, though when it’s with family it’s usually not as serious. With crows outside their family they may be fighting to defend mates, food, or territory boundaries. If a particular fight ends up deadly it might be because one of the participants was much weaker and just couldn’t take the assault, or misjudged something and got killed “accidentally”. Or, as Kevin McGowen suggested, maybe the bird was already injured or sick and the healthy crows saw what was basically a walking lure for a predator and tried to off it so it didn’t attract dangers to them. John Marzluff also discusses this behavior in his book In the Company of Crows and Ravens if you want to read other accounts.
3) Do crows collect shiny objects? There is no evidence that crows keep collections of inedible objects (shiny or otherwise). This myth probably originated from pet crows, who are often attracted to objects of obvious value to their owners like coins and keys. This is a different behavior, however, than “gift giving” which does sometimes include shiny objects.
UPDATE: New research shows that New Caledonian crows keep their favorite stick tools cached in “toolboxes” so it appears that at least some species of crows do cache certain kinds of inedible objects!
4) Why do crows gather around their dead? Certainly one reason is that the death of a crow can offer a “teachable moment” that other crows use to learn that the place and responsible party is dangerous. You can read more about this behavior here.
Crows and Humans
1) I found a dead crow in my yard, how do I get rid of it without upsetting the crows? Wait till dark and remove the body while the crows are away roosting.
2) Can I get West Nile virus from touching a crow? There is no evidence of WNV transmission directly between crows and people according to the CDC. That being said, it’s always a good idea to handle any animal (alive or dead) with gloves.
3) Is it legal to keep pet crows? Not without a permit-see below.
4) Are crows protected/Is it legal to kill or hunt crows? As of 1972, crows are protected under the migratory bird act. This means that it is illegal to “take (gov speak for kill), possess, import, export, transport, sell, purchase, barter, or offer for sale…the parts, nests, or eggs…except under the terms of a valid permit issued pursuant to Federal regulations.” For a more detailed explanation on the legality of hunting or killing crows, check out a previous blog post on the Portland crow poisoning.
5) Why was I just attacked by a crow while walking down the street? If it’s summer, you were unknowingly too close to a nest or fledged kid. If it happened once, it will probably continue to happen in that area for a couple of weeks so, if you can, steer clear. Otherwise, maintain eye contact with the parents, crows are less likely to dive bomb the front of your body than the back.
6) How can I get rid of crows from my yard? First off, I urge you to reconsider. Yes they can be noisy, and get into things, and cause mischief. But I assure you, you will not find another urban animal so charismatic, so intelligent and so accessible to explore avian behavior, cognition and biology. However, if you’re dead-set on the idea…you’re still mostly out of luck. You can hang a dead crow from a tree but that’s about it. Remember: poisons and ammo will hurt not only the crows you’re targeting but also the other wildlife you may be trying to attract. Also, killing them without a license in most places is very ILLEGAL. My advice is to open yourself to the idea of actually liking crows and get to the know the family, because it is a distinct family, that will stay with you for years if you allow.
7) I enjoy feeding crows, what kind of food should I offer them? Dried pet food is among their favorite but a cheaper option is whole unshelled peanuts. They also love eggs, tater tots, meat scraps and other nuts.
8) I’ve found an orphaned crow, what should I do? The first step is to identify if the bird you’ve found is actually orphaned and/or has prematurely fallen out of the nest. The young of lots of birds, including jays and crows, may look helpless and orphaned but are actually in the care of their parents and are much less likely to survive if you interfere and take them away. This flow chart will help you navigate the situation and explains, if necessary, how to temporarily house a bird until it can be taken to a care center. Remember, unless you are a licensed rehabber it’s illegal to try and keep orphaned animals.
9) Do crows ever bring people gifts? Yes, corvids have been known to bring people various objects in a manner that appears to be intentional. The most notorious example of this might be Gabi Mann, the little girl in Seattle who made headlines after receiving dozens of gifts from her neighborhood crows. Feeding crows is not guaranteed to lead to gifts, however, as many a dedicated (and disappointed) crow feeder will tell you. What causes the initial act of gift giving remains mysterious, but my best guess is that it’s a happy accident immediately reinforced with reward, thus leading to a mutually enjoyable habit. If you’re looking to make a profit off this behavior, however, I recommend checking out this post.
corvidresearch.blog 
Hi, love reading your blog. I live about 10 miles outside the city of Pittsburgh In PA. It has been home to a winter roost of over 10.000 crows. Some of these crows started hanging out at the community center where I work and I started to feed them. I had been feeding them for about 4 months, they recognized my car as I pulled in the lot and would call to me when I got out of the car. It was at this time when I think a really incredible thing happened. I had just fed the crows when the suddenly disappeared. I looked up and saw a large bird siting on top of a tree across the baseball field. They was the sun was shining I could not tell if it was a hawk or an eagle. I started to walk across the field to check it out and at about half way the crows that I thought were gone started making all kinds of noise so I turned around and went back to the parking lot to see what happened and when I got there everything was quiet. I headed across the field again and the same thing happened went back to the lot and quiet. On the fourth trip I think I realized that the crows were trying to warn my to stay away from the which by then I found out was a hawk. Is that possible what happened? Could not find another reason. Thanks
Hi Maggie. As a rule, I don’t like to say for certain that something’s impossible but I do think this is unlikely. Hawks aren’t threatening to people, nor do crows routinely warn heterospecifics (other species) about threats (though they may indirectly benefit as they warn each other). It’s more likely that the pattern of calling had more to do with the behavior of the hawk or the crows themselves that you just weren’t keyed in on. The fun thing about wildlife IMO are the many layers of their experience and behavior that remain invisible to us!
One week before I saw a injured crow fallen near my house I tried to push it aside, at time some crows was there they began to make noise. After that when ever I come out from house or on my roof some crows setting infront of my house and began to make noise. After collecting some crows through noise it seems they tried to attacked on me, without stick it is not possible to move. In this situation what can I do?.pl. suggest.
Hi Rakesh, try offing them a little food if that’s possible. That can often placate them. Table scraps will work fine.
They certainly love table scraps, they now stop by daily. I’m pretty sure the the same one comes the closest, but I can’t tell. But since I started, they never harass me. I don’t feed them every time they come, and after a while they move on. I’m part of their “tour” of the hood.
I found some docile crows with missing eyes, barely moving and just lying on the ground. I tried to call animal control, then fish and game but neither are a thing anymore. I called the spca and it is just a recording. So I then called 911 they told me nowadays you just let nature take its course when you find an injured wild animal. So they are no help at all. I’m concerned it may be a disease that could spread to my pet ducks, should I be concerned? I feel it should be investigated.
Hi Laura. I feel your compassion, so brace yourself because you might find the following bit graphic. As eyes are the softest, most readily available tissue they are often the first thing scavengers go after-even before the animal is dead. This is why ravens are crows have such a bad reputation among sheep farmers. So it’s not that unusual that a crow injured to the extant that you find it docile might have already lost an eye. Alternatively, an injury to the eye, and the resulting infection, could be what had rendered it incapacitated. So while crows can carry disease (as all songbirds can) nothing shared here sends up red flags that this was a communicable disease. Hope that helps
I was walking along and 2 crows began circling with their feet intentionally down while vocalizing. As I work further I saw a dead crow on the ground. They were circling over it with their feet down and it had just died. I know that because I had just walked past there less than 10 minutes previously. Why were they flying with their feet down?
Hi Darcy, they sometimes fly with their feet down when the flight is short lived. I don’t know of crows to use “deployed” feet as a visual signal.
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Hello,
We rescued and raised a crow that was blown from its nest by high winds this spring. Water softened dog food, bits of cooked chicken, and chunks of apple along with bugs and goods looted from the garden, were its standard fare as it grew and became flight capable. Now we set a bit of kibble out (plunder for all neighborhood birds) but it forages mostly on its own.
Five months into this experience and “Benny” spends most evenings with us and sleeps in a dog crate “nest” in our utility room at night. It gets let out in the mornings before we both leave for work and returns (or is waiting) in the pm when we get home. Early on, it flew and played great games of chase with local doves and has recently been flocking about our small town with a group of young magpies. We’ve also seen some socialization with crows, ones we assume to be parents and some younger ones. Benny gets along with our 15 year-old reservation rescue dog too.
It has been gone for periods of up to two days (stormy and nice conditions) but has clearly made us “home” for the time being and winter is coming. I am concerned with transferring the crow to the outdoors in the early mornings and about its ability to stay warm, especially on freezing or sub-zero days. Our thoughts are along the lines of putting a small heat mat (the type used for chick hatchlings) in the dog crate, which is routinely set outside each morning before we leave for work as well (a foul-weather bunker of sorts, though rarely if ever used by the crow for that purpose . . . to my knowledge).
I’d appreciate your thoughts on this temperature quandary and how we could best continue caring for this most unusual come-and-go friend we have made.
Ho Joel, unfortunately I don’t offer husbandry advice here. I would seek out a professional rehabber for your query.
Hi Dr Swift,
Someone recently began harassing the Renton crows at their mega roost near IKEA with some explosive noises that sound like M80 fireworks. When the birds begin to head into the grove at dusk the explosions go off and they panic and veer away back to the rooftops of the surrounding industrial buildings or smaller trees. It’s really distressing. Is this kind of harassment illegal or are businesses permitted to bring in wildlife “pest” control contractors to perform these kinds of deterrent activities when they’ve decided the dusk and dawn activity around the roost has gotten too noisy or destructive?
Hi ebchill, this kind of management is allowed but you’d need permitting through fish and wildlife. I might put in a call to them complaining, and see if the city is behind it. If they are not (or the responsible business didn’t go through the state), you would have a strong case to compel Fish and Wildlife officers to investigate and issue a citation. (Whether or not they’ll actually do any of that is not guarantee). That’s really disappointing to hear and I hope you keep me informed of what you find out!
Hi, this is a great site! I’ve recently become a friend of two crows in my neighbourhood, and for the last few months now I have been feeding them only once a day almost every day. They spend most of their time now around my house at feeding hours (12-1ish, and then back around 4-5pm, i feed usually at one of these times but not a constant one cause of my erratic schedule), and they’ve become one of my favourite parts of my days. They perch on the wires outside my bedroom window and watch me go about my day!
I wanted to comment, however, because I’m concerned of the effect I have on their health. I’m paranoid that they’ve started to become overweight- I can’t tell for sure, but it definitely seems like it. I have probably fed them too much because I enjoy sitting outside and feeding them. I feed them small dog kibble- small enough for them to eat comfortably. It’s meant to be a healthy kind as well. So I guess I’m asking around how much should I be feeding them a day? I don’t want to feed them over 100% of the food they need, ideally more like 75% or so, so they still forage without me. usually I throw out a few small handfuls of food. I’ve been scouring the internet for an exact amount that the average crow needs- similar to a human’s caloric intake or something, so that I can feel confident i’m not overfeeding them. Or maybe the solution is another kind of food that’s less likely to make them gain weight? Thank you so much for reading and hopefully responding. My crows, Bor Gullet and Piti thank you!
Hi Jasper! So in my opinion you should be aiming for feeding them a snack, rather than 75% of their diet. One handful of food a day. They are not pets, and should not be coming to you for the majority of their nutritional needs. Feel free to drip it out throughout the day-a few pieces each time you see them-as well. Thanks for asking!
Thanks so much! It’s really helpful to have your advice- I’m used to dogs where there’s a lot more info out there on how to care for them properly! I’ll gladly start giving them a healthier amount. Thanks again,
Jasper
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Dear Kaeli,
I’ve been a regular feeder of the crows in my local park in London for a few years now, so we’re all best buddies. Today something happened. It was a cold winter day and the crows were very excited to get peanuts as there isn’t much food around. They often start whizzing close to my head and sometimes even touch me gently with a wing, but today one of them dug its claws into my head for a brief moment. It didn’t hurt but I was taken by surprise. I wonder why the crow did this? To get my attention? I often throw them peanuts that they catch mid air, I call it the helicopter game as they hover in front of me with mouth wide open. They didn’t have any reason to be annoyed with me. All my googling just leads to articles about superstition.
Hi GRETE,
It’s an attention seeking behavior. Some birds just get aggressive about it like this. As best you can, try to stop feeding this bird so as not to reward this behavior. This is the kind of thing that can later get crows dispatched by animal control…
OK, thank you for the explanation! I wish they were easier to tell apart, I only have special names for two out of around 40. But next time I’ll turn my back afterwards so that the culprit definitely gets no reward. Naughty little things they are! I love them though, aw….. sigh.
What a great site! Thanks for the info!
Three years ago (N. Florida), I was using a small sprinkler in the middle of the back yard during a drought in summer. Two adult crows and three juvenile crows showed up to enjoy the ‘shower’. The three kids played for about 40 minutes – reminded me of puppies playing! One adult sat in a tree keeping watch, the other adult stayed on the ground not too far from the kids. You could tell she/he was keeping watch as well. This became an afternoon routine for that summer.
Since that time, the ‘family’ has been visiting the yard twice per day. I feed birds and squirrels. The shelled peanuts have become a routine afternoon snack for the crows. I now have a feeding bowl on a bench in the area that I will put leftovers in – the crows seem to love it. Squash casserole, Sweet Potato Souffle, quiche, dog food kibble, etc.
Yesterday, I left some cut up roast (cut small so they could eat it). They took it out of the bowl and made a pile in the middle of the yard. Then they systematically buried each piece in the back yard!?! Does this mean they did not like it? Saving it for later? Hoping to attract maggots to eat?
Over the past three years of observation, I have become fascinated with their antics … many are just hilarious! The empty corn cob (after they had eaten all the corn) became a toy of keep-away for about a week! Haha!
Hi Susan! The behavior you saw is called caching, and it’s a common practice among crows. They are saving the food for later, though in all likelihood they won’t recover it. In the animal world there are two kinds of cachers: Obligate and facultative (opportunistic). Crows are facultative cachers, meaning they don’t actually rely on those food stores to survive. Given the abundant food, they probably won’t bother digging it up again. Though they might!
Just found your blog and have been enjoying the many crow “anecdotes” and your responses from your many Blog followers. Now I can share our “crow” experience and ask for any guidance you can provide for us.
Three years ago we saw an injured crow in our
Yard (we do feed many local birds via a variety of feeders) who’s right wing had been broken making him nearly flightless. Nonetheless he was able to hop around and climb up our evergreen trees. He only hung around for a couple of days and we did see him
again.
Late last summer he returned – wing still broken- and we started befriending him providing him with the food he would like (really likes a fresh egg!) and we named him Moe! He spent the better part of the fall in yard always reminding us when he wanted to be fed. When late fall set in he had many crows hanging in the yard – we thought to protect him and encourage his joint them in their migration- if they do migrate. Then he was gone – we were sure a stray cat had been Moe’s demise.
This week Moe has returned and is back to his usual feeding reminder schedule and has even grown a bit but still has a broken wing. He has mastered climbing evergreen trees and can glide down to locations he’d like to visit quite adeptly although we’re still worried about him crossing the street to get to our neighbors evergreen for his next flight.
My question is – where did Moe go for the winter? He definitely was not around for our cold North Dakota winter but obviously couldn’t fly to migrate
With his friends unless he climbed a series of evergreen trees to get where he wanted or needed to go. Do have videos of Moe if you’re interested.
Wow, what an unlikely situation! I would love to see videos, email them to kaeli.swift@gmail.com. You are sure he cannot fly? I really have no idea where it would have gone or how on earth it is still alive. I would like to learn more though!
Hi! I’ve been researching, observing, and rehabilitating corvids for a very long time. I have a lovely disabled hooded crow who can’t survive in the wild so she lives with us permanently. My question is about this particular bird. When she was little a lady found her in a miserable shape. She was getting attacked by 15-20 crows and they were trying to kill her. Crows are always overprotective of their own and other crows chick. I’ve been researching but can’t find an answer to this behavior. Why do you think they did that to her?
Hi Liva, it’s not uncommon for crows to attack other injured crows, though we don’t know why. They may be seizing the opportunity to eliminate a competitor (crows are incredibly social but like us that doesn’t mean they’re not also very competitive with one another), or may be trying to reduce the chance it’s killed by a predator who then goes looking for more crow meals. But we really don’t know.
We have a family of crows who visit daily and we love them. A few years ago they started throwing around and breaking our stuff on the patio. To get attention I believe. That upgraded to stealing. They have taken small rocks and ornaments from planters. The most hilarious and upsetting was the theft of several champagne bottle stoppers that we had forgotten outside after a wine tasting. Our neighbour found one of them, broken, in her yard. We now can’t leave anything breakable or small enough to carry away outside. They’re brats. And we love them. Wish that they were better behaved. *sigh*
R A S C K L E S 🙂
Feeding crows can cause diseases to spread. In Washington state, it is against the law in King County to create conditions that can provide a food source for rodents. (KC BOH code Chapter 8.06)
A great reminder that feeding any wildlife comes with risks. Most king co bird watchers probably remember the 2021 salmonella outbreak that warranted the removal of bird feeders for a couple months. Likewise, wild bird feeding can be a huge problem for rats if proper steps aren’t taken. Seattle Audubon had great resources for best practices, but for crow feeders watching to make sure all the food is consumed-and only putting out a small handful-makes this process much easier than for general bird feeding.
The crows that visit us daily are everything to me, I cook eggs and make them suet but it upsets me when they chase one another off so I leave 3 piles separate.
Hello! Your site is so interesting! I am a fervent animal lover and do not wish any harm to ANY animals.
I live in an apartment building with a courtyard where a group of house finches live. Recently (over the last two weeks) a crow has started coming around as well. In the last 24 hours I watched the crow attack and eat two of the house finches. Is there anything I can do to prevent this or help the finches? I know you specialize in corvids, and I don’t want to harm it but I also want to protect this beautiful songbird colony.
Hi Claire! You’ve arrived at a very difficult, but inevitable, intersection for a bird watcher. How do we protect birds if what they need protection from is…birds? As hard as it is to watch animals get eaten, it’s vital to remember that predation is what keeps wildlife wild. It’s what keep ecosystems complex, changing, and beautiful. The house finch has given the gift of life to the crow who will in turn feed its young, who will become the gift of life for an owl and so on and so forth. Disrupting this cycle of giving to ease our own discomfort is not so different from cutting down forests to install manicured lawns; it’s an effort to change nature to make it more suitable and appealing to us. You obviously have a big heart for birds and that’s awesome. We need more people like that! Perhaps instead of intervening though you can make some space in it for new bird friends to root for, including those that eat other birds.
Do you know if Crows care for their sick/elderly? I have a crow I’ve been on friendly terms with for a few years and would interact with daily. It’s gone missing for a few weeks but is now back and definitely acting differently. It sounds weird, slowly flapping it’s wings constantly, but most peculiarly, is being fed by another crow.
Hi Morgan. So there are definitely stories of crows feeding injured partners, but I have a different suspicion. Everything you’ve mentioned (weird voice, fluttering wings, is being fed) indicates that you’re seeing a baby crow. If you can capture the interaction in a photo or video I can confirm the age for you. Obviously that would mean you’re not seeing the bird you thought you were and given that you knew this bird well that might be an unlikely error on your part. But the details you’ve provided make that the simplest explanation. So let’s rule that out before considering other explanations for the strange behavior.
I did take a few videos. I at first thought it was a baby crow, but this particular crow has a badly healed foot (the back toe/claw has healed under it’s front claws) and that’s how I always notice this crow. It comes and waits by my front door. Which is why I think perhaps it’s sick? Is there a way I can send you the videos? Email perhaps?
I could be wrong and it could be a baby, but I would be shocked.
Email is good, kaeli.swift@gmail
Hello, would hooded crows also care for Eurasian Magpie babies?
Not to my knowledge, Acalya
Down our road at the moment we are constantly being attacked by crows,a couple of people have been badly hurt by this.who is or what is the best way to get in contact with someone to help
Many thanks
Hi Laura, putting up signage that informs people of temporarily aggressive wildlife due to nesting is a very effective way to keep people out of problem areas and reduce conflict. These signs are available with a quick google search (“attack bird sign”). Carrying an umbrella if being in that area is unavoidable is 100% effective in preventing injuries.
Hello – thank you for this blog! For over a year, a crow has been visiting us that we’ve named Harry. He started to make a call that seemed specifically was for me outside the window one day (he was turned toward me and looking in). He made the guttural sound while bowing his head, it ended with a little blip sound at the end (sorry, hard to describe but doing my best). After a year, his partner started coming as well – she’s shy towards us. I assume his partner because they are calm together and even Harry moves to leave food for her when she’s near. I’ve seen him bend his head when he’s near her (I think as a request for some preening). Harry is comfortable with us – sometimes he perches on our windowsill when the window is open. I wanted to ask if you know what this sound/behavior is? I see that he’s made it when his partner is around him as well. He spends a lot of time with us – we feed him but I think will start a schedule of feeding so he’s not depending on our food for most of his nutrition. We appreciate him and his visits!
Crows fly directly over my home in the same direction every morning: they roost nearby. Most continue on, but dozens gather in a single tree above the golf course below, chatter for awhile, then deploy. Some follow the path of the earlier birds, some deploy to other trees and some start feeding on what I assume are insects or worms on the watered grass below.
Is it possible they paused to make plans? Who decides what?
Hi Lynn, what you’re seeing are the post-roosting aggregations (there are also pre-roost aggregations areas in the evenings). There’s so much we still don’t know about the function of these gatherings but there’s a team at UW that’s trying to learn more! https://www.washington.edu/news/2017/12/05/rooftop-wiretap-aims-to-learn-what-crows-gossip-about-at-dusk/
Hi,
Thanks for sharing your knowledge of crows.
I have a family of crows, one adult three young , that come to my back yard for peanuts several times a day. Often the young are left in the yard when the parents is off nearby. The parent spends time in the yard too and is very tolerant of me doing gardening chores, though it does let me know when I am getting too close to a young one.
Last evening a young one, who could fly well, turned up with an obviously injured wing. Today I called the local wildlife rescue and after sending a video of the crow they asked me to bring it in. I got the crow safely to them and now am wondering what will happen on its release should it be successfully rehabilitated. Is it better for a young crow to be releases near its family? Will it do okay in a different area. I live in Edmonton ,Alberta and most of our crows leave the area in the autumn. Is that something that would be considered as to when it is released?
Thanks in advance for your answer.
Donna
Hi Donna, generally it’s better to release animals near where they were originally found, yes. Dispersal behaviors in crows are variable, but there’s value to reintegrating in familiar areas whether or not it would have stayed with it’s family for the coming months.
Hello,
I was driving today and saw a crow falling from a tree to the ground. It broke my heart so I ran to give him some help but he was dead and there was blood on the ground. I put him on the side of the road and tried to cover him with some dirt. I am a animal lover so this really affected me ….
I never saw that before. What could be a possible cause ? Appreciate any input you can give me in this matter.
Thank you
Hi Titi, my guess is that a predator had it in the tree and then dropped it. Why it might have dropped it I can’t say.
I live in Scotland UK
I have 3 crows who come to my garden. I leave healthy bird food for all, but one keeps crowing and wants to be fed mouth to mouth by the others. It looks like an adult crow.
I thought it was their offspring or perhaps it was the opposite – the male or female head of the family.
Is there a reason for this?
Thankyou
Marilyn
Hi Marilyn, it sounds like you are seeing a fledgling from this year. At this time, they will be about the same size as their parents. Check the color of their mouth interior to verify. Pink for kids, all black for adults.
When I feed the neighborhood crows the food is left there until he caw;s for another to join him ..why does he not go ahead and lunch on his own?
Hi Carol, I have an article on this topic that might interest you. It doesn’t fully answer your question but it explains how we have tried to! https://corvidresearch.blog/2019/03/14/crow-vocalizations-part-i-new-science/
Hello, I’m looking for a book that delves I to the social behaviors and habits of crows. I’ve got Bird Brains, Gift of the Crow, and In the Company of Crows and Ravens but none scratch the itch. I want to understand what the red rover-like game they play in a group between trees, why at a point each afternoon (before they’ve left for roosting) the babies are left alone hanging out but not coming to the ground), or what the deal is when all the country cousins come to town in the fall. Is there any good book on these social behaviors and patterns? Thanks!