If you live in the contiguous United States, you’ve almost certainly seen (or heard!) an American crow.
BySara Zeglin
American crows range from southern Canada throughout the United States. As an adult, this bird is entirely black from bill to tail, except for its brown eyes. Adult crow feathers have a glossy sheen. These noisy birds are often recognizable by their distinctive, loud cry, called a caw. They are often mistaken for the common raven, but ravens are larger, have differently shaped bills, pointed wings and tails, and hoarser cries.
American crows often live in family groups. Both members of a breeding pair help build the nests, and the female crow usually lays four or five eggs in the spring or summer. After about five weeks in the nest, the young birds begin learning how to fly and catch prey. Crows sometimes stay near the place where they were born to help raise other young crows.
Scientific Classification
- Common name: American Crow
- Scientific name: Corvus brachyrhynchos
- Kingdom: Animalia
- Phylum: Chordata
- Class: Aves
- Order: Passeriformes
- Family: Corvidae
- Genus: Corvus
- Species: Corvus brachyrhynchos
The scientific name Corvus brachyrhynchos roughly refers to a crow with a relatively short bill.
Appearance
The American Crow is a medium-to-large songbird with an unmistakable all-black appearance.
Its entire body is covered in dark feathers, including the:
- Head
- Neck
- Back
- Wings
- Tail
- Breast
- Belly
- Legs
- Feet
- Bill
In good sunlight, the feathers can show subtle blue, purple, green, or violet iridescent reflections.
Size
Typical adult American Crows measure approximately:
- Length: 15.8–20.9 inches (40–53 cm)
- Wingspan: about 33.5–39.4 inches (85–100 cm)
- Weight: approximately 11.2–21.9 ounces (316–620 g)
There can be considerable variation depending on sex, age, location, and individual bird.
Head and Bill
The head is relatively large, with a strong, pointed black bill.
The bill is useful for:
- Picking up food
- Tearing meat
- Digging
- Opening objects
- Carrying nesting material
- Manipulating food
- Defending themselves
Eyes
American Crows have dark eyes that appear almost black from a distance.
Their excellent vision helps them locate food, recognize potential predators, identify other crows, and navigate their surroundings.
Wings
The wings are broad and powerful. American Crows are capable fliers and can travel considerable distances while searching for food or moving between roosting and feeding locations.
Tail
The tail is relatively long and rounded compared with the tail of a raven.
The tail helps provide stability and control during flight.
American Crow vs. Raven
American Crows are sometimes confused with Common Ravens, but they are different species.
Some useful differences include:
| Feature | American Crow | Common Raven |
|---|
Range of the American crow
Crows gather in large groups during the winter. They congregate late in the day in areas with large trees. This behavior is known as winter roosting.
Crows will eat almost anything, from insects and small animals such as frogs to fruit and nuts. They prefer open areas with access to trees and can sometimes be found around vegetable gardens. Crows also frequently live in suburban neighborhoods and in parks.
Crows are considered to be very intelligent birds.
Habitat
American Crows are extremely adaptable.
They can occupy a wide range of habitats, including:
- Deciduous forests
- Mixed forests
- Farmland
- Grasslands
- Wetlands
- River valleys
- Coastal areas
- Suburban neighborhoods
- City parks
- Residential areas
- Agricultural fields
- Roadsides
- Open countryside
They often prefer landscapes that provide a mixture of trees for nesting and roosting and open areas for feeding.
Final Summary
The American Crow (Corvus brachyrhynchos) is a highly intelligent, adaptable, social, and widespread bird native to North America. Recognized by its glossy black plumage and unmistakable caw, it can survive in environments ranging from remote forests and agricultural fields to busy cities.
Its intelligence is among its most remarkable characteristics. American Crows can remember important locations and individuals, learn from experience, communicate danger, cooperate with family members, and adapt their behavior to changing circumstances.
As omnivorous scavengers and predators, they play an important role in natural ecosystems by consuming carrion, insects, seeds, fruits, and many other food sources. Their strong family relationships and communal roosting behavior make them especially interesting to scientists and bird enthusiasts.
Although they are sometimes viewed as nuisance birds because of their feeding habits and large gatherings, American Crows are an important and fascinating part of North America’s wildlife. Their remarkable ability to learn, remember, cooperate, and adapt has allowed them to become one of the continent’s most successful and recognizable birds.
