Often heard when in large groups or as a warning to others that a predator is near, this call always occurs in sets of three.

The crow belongs to the Family Corvidae which includes jays, crows and ravens. They share forward facing bristles above their nostrils. Generally members of this family are noisy, gregarious birds who successfully steal food from much larger animals.

In the Pacific Northwest, there are two species or types of crows. The smaller of the two lives only along the coastal & agricultural areas from Oregon to Alaska (including the islands) and is called the Northwestern crow Corvus caurinus. This crow does not migrate. Scientists are not sure if the Northwestern Crow is a subspecies of a larger relative, the American or Common Crow Corvus brachyrhynchos who is found in most other areas of North America.

Other than size, they can be told apart by where they live, their calls and the speed of their wing beat. The Northwestern crow calls with a low hoarse "caaar" sound. The common crow calls with a longer higher "caaaaw". Other calls sound similar. Northwestern crows, being smaller, also have a slightly faster wing beat in flight.

Crows are among the most intelligent of birds. They are great problem solvers (especially when it comes to getting food). They hide food on the beach and use landmarks to find it again. If those landmarks are moved, the crow is unable to find the food.

Crows are great mimics and can learn a great variety of sounds including talking. Even between each other, they use a wide variety of low calls, often sounding like they are talking to one another, human-style!

The Raven and Crow both belong to the Family Corvidae and are easily told apart in flight. The Raven is about twice as big as the crow with a heavier beak and more pronounced fan or flare to the tail. Look closely to see if you can observe this! The Raven's call is also much lower and more throaty.

Sexes and juveniles look the same, having all black feathers with black beaks, legs and feet. From a distance, they can be told from other similar-looking birds because they tend to walk, not hop and in flight their wings flap constantly, except in a strong wind.

Monogamous pairs take about two weeks to build stick nests more than 10 meters (30 feet) in trees. They re-use nests each year which they line with grass, hair and Cedar bark fibers.

Courtship includes mutual preening. Males land in trees and spread their wings and tail, bow and fluffs his feathers. In flight, he will wheel and dive while chasing the female. The male feeds the female while she incubates the eggs.

Usually four greenish eggs with splotches are laid and incubated for 19 days by both parents. Chicks hatch in April. Young are cared for by both parents and grow quickly. They stay with adults for a year or more, often helping to protect and feed the next year's brood. Scientists have discovered that adults with helpers produce more young than parents without helpers.

Some crows have a second brood in the same year.

Crows defend a territory from other crows only during the nesting season. The rest of the year, they prefer to flock up with other crows for at least part of the day, often roosting in huge groups at night. If you watch at dusk, you can see them fly in long lines towards their night roost.

These communal roosts may have some benefits, but they also have drawbacks. Roosting with other birds may protect them by sheer numbers from predators as there are more birds to be on the alert. However, that can also backfire as having too many birds also makes them more noticeable by predators.

Crows are primarily scavengers, eating whatever they can find off the ground. They will hoard or hide food for times when it is not as plentiful. Common Crows eat insects, fruits, grains, nuts, eggs and nestlings, small rodents, carcasses and garbage. Northwestern Crows tend to spend time on the beach at low tide and also feed on small marine invertebrates, fish, crabs, clams and seabird eggs. Clams and mussels are opened by dropping them from a height onto rocks.

Young crows are fed mostly insects such as grubs, cutworms and other invertebrates such as earthworms. These are high in protein and will help them grow quickly.

Like other birds that feed on rodents and other birds, Crows regurgitate pellets of fur and bones, although their pellets are not as solid or hold together as well as an owls.

When feeding, crows post a guard who watches for predators. Usually it is an older experienced bird that can tell a harmless sound from a threatening one. Several birds takes turns on watch so each bird has a chance to eat.

Because crows feed on other birds, they are often attacked or mobbed by smaller birds. You may have seen this when a flock of small birds dive bomb the crows as they fly over or sit on a branch of a tree. Usually the smaller birds are successful in driving off the crows because of their continued attacks and announcements to other birds that a predator is near.

Some birds, such as cliff swallows, protect themselves from egg stealing birds like crows by nesting in colonies. That way there are many more eyes to watch and warn about predators.

Humans too have prosecuted these large black birds because of the impact of their scavenging ways on corn and other crops. Yet because of their adaptability, they have thrived with no drop in overall numbers of crows.

In fact, along with the coyote and raccoon, the crow is one of the few species who benefits from contact with humans and the farmlands that they create as they cut forests to open them up for farming.

Shiny objects such as coins, tin foil, gum wrappers etc., attract the attention of crows who love shiny objects. They will collect these items and bury them or hide them nearby, sometimes in an old nest and tree cavity.

by Donna Hill B.Sc. B.Ed. 1998