GENERAL INFORMATION

The American Crow, or the Common Crow, is found throughout Western North Carolina and is a unique and successful bird that has long thrived in America.  The crows are of the family Corvidae, which includes Jays, Ravens and Magpies. The Northern Raven is larger than the American Crow and is often mistaken for the American Crow. The Raven has a wedge-shaped tail and heavier bill, and the voice of the Raven is different from the crows. The Raven has a croaking "cr-r-ruck" or " prruk".

DESCRIPTION

The American Crow is a large perching black bird glossed with purplish color in the sunlight. Both the bill and the feet are black. Crows fly with a steady rowing wingbeat. You may recognize their familiar "caw" sound or "cah" or "ca".

HABITS AND HABITATS

Crows range near woodlands, farmlands, agriculture fields, river groves and shores. They are a typical bird of the rural countryside and are not afraid to be around people. Their diet consists of mostly vegetable matter like corn, wheat, oats, wild berries and nuts. They may also eat insects, crayfish, snakes, lizards, mice, rats, young rabbits, other birds' eggs and carrion. The American Crow mates early in February, and during their nesting season, the birds are quiet and secretive remaining in solitary pairs. They build their nests out of sticks and twigs and line them with leaves, moss, hair, feathers and grass. Crows have also been known to "steal" objects and take them to their nest. Both adults share in constructing the nest, incubating the eggs and caring for the young. They have four to six eggs, pale blue to olive green, spotted and blotched with dark brown. In their courtship displays the male spreads its wings and tail, fluffs its body feathers and bows several times to the female while  singing a "rattling" song. Crows are also known for "mobbing" some birds of prey. They may dive bomb the bird, chase or harass them to protect themselves and their eggs or babies.

HISTORY

The name crow comes from Anglo-Saxon, crawe (an imitation of its call). The generic names of the raven and the crow are the Latin corvus meaning "crow". The American Crow's brachyrhynchos is Greek for "short-beaked"--and the crow's beak is shorter than the raven's beak. The crow is very fond of corn and young poultry, so they are very often shot, trapped, bombed and poisoned. Many 'scarecrows' have been placed in fields or gardens to ward off the crows, but it doesn't seem to "scare" them at all! Crows are a game bird and are taken during the appropriate season. The species still continues to survive despite these obstacles. From an economical standpoint, the species is both beneficial and detrimental. They are beneficial to farmers because they eat many of the June bugs, grasshoppers, grubs, weevils and other insects that plague the farmers fields. They also help keep the rodent population down.

INFORMATION LINKS

Birder.com
National Audubon Society

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©2002 WNC Nature Center