Crow Facts

Crows are a group of birds that belong to the family Corvidae. They are known for their extremely high intelligence and sometimes mischievous behavior. They are fascinating animals and here are some of the most amazing crow facts.

Crows Roost In Large Numbers

Crows are smart and they know that there is safety in numbers. To help protect themselves from predators such as great-horned owls, red-tailed hawks, and raccoons at night they will roost in large groups. This is known as communal roosting. Large roosts may have several hundred crows or even up to several hundred thousand.

There Are About Forty Different Crow Species

Crows belong to the genus Corvus which contains around forty distinct species. This includes crows, rooks, ravens, and jackdaws. The American crow is one of the most widely distributed and recognizable of all the crow species in North America.

Crows Are Highly Susceptible To West Nile Virus

Crows are known to be very vulnerable to the West Nile virus. This is actually one of the most helpful facts about crows since dead crows can therefore be used as an indicator that there is West Nile Virus in a specific area. By monitoring dead crows, health agencies can help to predict outbreaks.

The virus is transmitted to crows by infected mosquitoes or when the crows eat other birds (alive or dead) which have already been infected. There is no evidence however of crows directly transmitting West Nile Virus to humans.

Crows Use Ants, Although Scientists Aren’t Exactly Sure For What

Crows participate in what’s known as, “anting.” They allow ants to crawl all over them or they may pick the ants up and wipe their feathers with them. While scientists don’t know exactly why crows and other bird species do this there are a few theories.

Some believe that the birds are using the formic acid secreted by the ants to repel insects and kill bacteria and fungus. Others believe anting may help to prevent the birds’ plumage from drying out or even to make the ants more edible by removing the acid.

Crows Can Talk

Many of us are used to seeing these birds in the yard or garden. However one of the fun facts about crows most people don’t know, is that they actually have the ability to speak.

Not only can they mimic human words but also a wide range of sounds including the calls of other animals. Some crows may even learn to talk as well or even better than many parrots. Typically the best talkers are those that live in wildlife sanctuaries and zoos.

Crows Are Considered By Many People To Be Pests

American crows in particular are notorious for the problems they can cause homeowners and farmers. They often feed on crops, pull up seedlings, and dig up lawns looking for worms and grubs. Crows can be quite noisy, will scare songbirds away, and quickly empty out birdfeeders. Dead crow decoys along with bird netting, and fake owls and hawks are often used to deter them humanely.

A Group Of Crows Is Known As A, “Murder”

This might sound funny, but it’s true. In the past, it was common to name groups of animals in much more creative and unusual ways. Some examples of this are a parade of elephants, an army of herring, a tower of giraffes, a descent of woodpeckers, and a consortium of crabs.

The term “murder,” is believed to stem from the fact that throughout history crows have been associated with death. Today, however, scientists almost always refer to a group of crows as a flock.

Crows Are Highly Intelligent

Crows are not just smart but very smart. Researchers have compared their intelligence to that of an average seven-year-old human child. They are believed to be as smart as primates like gorillas and chimpanzees. One of the most amazing facts about crows’ intelligence is that they can use it not only to solve complex problems but also to fashion and use tools.

Crows Are Widespread

Crows have an incredibly wide range. They can actually be found on every continent on the planet with the exception of South America and Antarctica.

Crows Sometimes Leave Gifts For Humans

While it doesn’t happen often, one of the little-known crow facts is that these birds sometimes do leave gifts for their human friends. However, the gifting of objects isn’t believed to be intentional, at least at first. It’s thought that the crows accidentally leave random objects behind when visiting the yard of someone who is feeding them.

When the human sees what they perceive as a gift, they leave extra food for the crow as a reward. Having above-average intelligence, the crow then associates the gifting behavior with the reward and it continues. Amazingly, crows can even teach other crows to leave gifts as well.

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