See all posts in the Birds of Carver County series
The American Crow is sometimes called the Common Crow and its Latin scientific name, Corvus brachyrhynchos, means “short-billed raven.”
The species is probably one of the most-recognizable birds in Carver County, if not in Minnesota and most of the United States. All shiny black and large — 18 inches long and a wingspan of over three feet — the Crow survives in all our seasons.
It attracts our attention with its loud voice that seems in almost continuous communication with other crows. Scientific studies indicate it shares a high level of intelligence with other species in the Corvid family. This group includes ravens, magpies and jays.
They can be seen by themselves flying in a straight line “as the crow flies” with a continual rowing motion of its wings — rarely gliding or soaring.
This unique style of flight is one characteristic that separates it from its larger cousin — the Common Raven. Also, the Crow’s tail is rounded, and the Raven’s is wedge-shaped. The Crow’s call is mostly a variation of “CAW” while the Raven’s is “BRONK” or “CROAK.” Ravens are not common in Carver County.
American Crows can also be very social. They may spend the night roosting with dozens or thousands of other crows. They may spend the daylight hours roaming singly or with a family group including parents and siblings.
Because they don’t usually breed until they are 4 or more years old, juvenile crows may help their parents raise their younger brothers and sisters. First-year crows can be identified by their blue eyes and a pink gape (area at the base of the beak next to the head.) Males and females look alike.
Crows have been successful in populating habitats that have woods and open spaces to forage for food. They are the definition of “omnivore” — they eat almost everything. They benefit from our trash, amphibians, small animals, bird nestlings, seeds from crops and bird feeders in our yards. They will land on trays and consume seeds and peanuts and search for spillage on the ground. Even though they can’t perch vertically, they can hover next to suet feeders and stab at the contents and bring chunks of the suet to the ground.
Despite coming close to human housing and feeding off roadkill, Crows will avoid our presence. Years of hunting them and other methods we’ve used to discourage them from agricultural areas have resulted in wariness and intelligent avoidance of humans. For birders, this means that binoculars and long lenses are required for close viewing.
Beyond their normal communication with other crows, their group alarm calls can signify an opportunity to see crows work in unison to drive away predators like owls, hawks, foxes and cats. Their fast and smooth flight through the branches of our trees seems to indicate they have a three-dimensional territorial map within their memories. Hopping and walking around our yards while we watch behind windows, we can enjoy these large but wary birds that have established themselves in our folklore and communities.
For more information:
- The Sibley Guide to Birds, David Allen Sibley
- Reader’s Digest Book of North American Birds
- Birds of Minnesota, Robert B. Janssen
- Breeding Birds of Minnesota, Pfannmuller, Niemi and Green
- The Audubon Society’s Encyclopedia of North American Birds, John K. Terres
- Birds of the World, Cornell Lab of Ornithology
- Online: All About Birds, Cornell Lab of Ornithology LINK
- Online: Minnesota Breeding Bird Atlas
