22 Interesting Crow Facts: Secrets of the Intelligent Bird

The crow belongs to the family Corvidae which is usually brown in color. There are 40 known species of crows, ranging from small pigeons to large-sized ‘Jakta’ Breeds.

Crows play a vital role in protecting the environment by eating garbage and other waste. So, today we will learn some amazing facts about this amazing creature known as the crow.

Facts About Crows:

They are part of the Corvid family:

Crows are found all over the world, except for Antarctica. There are 40 different species of crow. Some famous of them are the Common Raven, the American Crow, and the Hooded Crow.

Also, crows are part of the Corvid family, including magpies, ravens, and jays. Corvids are regarded to be among the most intelligent of all birds.

They have a complex system of calls:

A crow is a songbird. These birds are known for their complex and distinctive cawing sound. This sound is used to communicate with other members of their flock. Crows have a complex system of calls, each with a unique voice, which helps them find out or identify each other.

Crows are adaptable and social birds:

Crows are remarkably adaptable birds and can live in various environments. These birds can be found in suburbs, cities, forests, and even rural areas. They are also highly adaptable to new situations and have been famous for thriving in urban environments. 

They are also very social birds. They usually live in large groups, known as flocks. These flocks can number in the hundreds or even thousands of birds.

They have excellent memories:

Crows have excellent memories and also are popular for recognizing individual humans. They can even remember certain locations and patterns, which helps them to avoid danger and find food.

In addition to this, crows can even recognize individual humans by their body language, facial features, and clothing. They are known to be wary of people who have treated them poorly in the past and may be aggressive toward them.

Crows are omnivorous:

Crows are omnivorous birds and will eat just about anything. Their diet includes small animals, insects, seeds, and fruits. Crows are also known to scavenge for food and will often feed on roadkill.

They are intelligent pranksters:

Crows are remarkably intelligent birds who are also capable of using different tools. In one famous experiment, a crow was seen to stick to extract food from a tube. Crows are also known to solve complex problems.

In a study, a crow figured out how to use three different tools in sequence and retrieve food. Not only this but crows are also famous as pranksters. They play tricks on each other and even on other animals. They also steal shiny objects, such as coins and jewelry. 

Crows are highly empathetic:

Crows are known to be highly empathetic and can even comfort other crows who are in distress. These intelligent birds have been observed consoling crows who have lost their offspring or mates.

Crows even have been observed mourning their dead. This is a behavior that is not often seen in the animal kingdom. These birds will gather around a dead crow and make loud cawing noises. 

Crows can use a variety of vocalizations:

Crows have a really complex and distinctive language that includes a variety of vocalizations, such as clicks, caws, and even rattles. These remarkable birds can communicate information regarding threats, food sources, and other important information.

They can use deception:

Crows are amazingly intelligent birds and have been known to use deception to fool other animals. They have been observed pretending to hide food in a certain location while actually hiding it in another.

Crows are highly territorial and protect their young:

Crows are highly territorial and will defend their own territory against other crows. They use different types of vocalizations and even physical displays to communicate with each other and establish dominance.

In addition to this, these intelligent birds are very protective of their young. They will work together to defend their nests. These birds have been known to mob predators and various other threats, sometimes even attacking humans.

They can learn from their experiences:

They have even been observed using traffic to crack nuts by dropping them in the middle of the road and waiting for vehicles to run over them.

They can even adapt to changing environments and modify their behavior to suit new situations. They can learn from their experiences and pass on that knowledge to other flock members.

Crows are monogamous and have a strong sense of community:

Crows are monogamous and mate for life. They build their nests high in trees and will defend their territory fiercely. Though crows stay with one mate generally, they are still not always entirely faithful because they sometimes mate with others.

Moreover, crows have a strong sense of community and will work together to achieve common goals. They have been observed using coordinated tactics to mob predators and drive them away from their territory.

Crows are remarkably resourceful:

Crows are remarkably resourceful birds and have been known to use different types of materials to build their nests. They have been observed using leaves, twigs, grass, and even human-made materials like plastic, wire, and cloth.

They can mimic sounds:

Crows have been known to mimic the calls of other birds and even other animals, such as dogs and cats. These intelligent birds can imitate a wide range of sounds, which can help them communicate with other flock members.

Some crows, in particular regions, are known as birds that can respond to calls from other species of animals.

They like to play:

Crows have been observed to be engaged in play behavior, such as playing with toys or even sliding down snowy rooftops. They can enjoy themselves and have fun like many other animals and humans.

They can recognize objects and solve puzzles:

Crows can recognize various types of objects that are associated with people, such as hats and cars. They can even use this information to find potential food sources and avoid dangers.

In addition, crows are also popular for their ability to solve puzzles and navigate mazes to access food. They can use their problem-solving skills and intelligence to overcome various obstacles and find new food sources.

They can learn from one another:

Crows can learn from each other and even pass their knowledge on to younger birds. They have been observed teaching their offspring how to find food, avoid predators, and share information with other flock members.

Crows are depicted as a symbol of intelligence:

For centuries, crows have been used as a symbol of intelligence and cunning. They have been featured in art, literature, and mythology from various cultures, often as trickster figures.

A three-legged crow can be found in Korean, Japanese, and Chinese mythology.

Crows are crafty foragers:

Crows are not only intelligent but also crafty foragers. They sometimes follow adult birds to find out where their nests are hidden. Sometimes, they even steal food from other animals. A group of crows was seen trying to distract a river otter from stealing its fish. 

Sometimes, crows even follow songbirds after they arrive from a long migration and catch those exhausting birds. Crows can catch fish, steal from outdoor dog dishes, and even take fruit from trees.

They are very good egg thieves:

Crows are incredible egg thieves. They will observe other birds build their nests, watching and inspecting what the birds do.

This makes it much easier for the crow to steal from the nest once the eggs have been laid. Moreover, crows are highly opportunistic birds; hence, they will watch other birds bringing their young food, and then they may swoop and steal that food.

Crows perform ‘anting’:

Crows have been famous for performing ‘anting.’ In this, the crows rub ants all over their feathers or even lie near an anthill letting the ants crawl through their feathers.

Some say that the ants here act as an insecticide and help them to control parasites like feather mites. However, others say that it is a method of catching prey. 

They can build nests anywhere:

Crows can build nests everywhere, in trees, pylons, and even cliff edges. Their nests are built from twigs with a lining of bark and hair. The female and male build their nests together, then the female incubates the eggs. 

After the eggs are hatched, both male and female birds can help feed the chicks. Also, a nesting crow can eat almost 100 grasshoppers in just three hours.

Hence, at the end of this article, we learned about 22 amazing facts about crows. These facts offer us a clear picture of this highly intelligent bird in our ecosystem. To know more, you can see our website.

Interesting Takeaways:

1. Crows are highly intelligent birds capable of problem-solving and using tools.
2. Crows have been observed engaging in playful behavior with each other and with other animals.
3. Crows have a complex social hierarchy and can recognize individual human faces.
4. Crows have a long history of cultural significance in various societies, often viewed as symbols of death and wisdom.