Library #35 · D Woodland · Wave 2

American Crow

Corvus brachyrhynchos · Corvidae

Highly intelligent social bird with a rich caw language.

At a glance

Size: 16–21 in
Wingspan: 33–39 in
Habitat: Almost everywhere: farms, cities, woods
Diet: Omnivore — insects, grain, fruit, carrion, scraps

Range: Most of the lower 48 and southern Canada

Nesting: Stick nest high in a tree crotch; both sexes build.

Coloring pose idea: Family group on nest tree / clever problem-solver

Hear this bird

General call / song: Familiar caw; many other rattles and clicks.

Mating / display: Quieter bowing and soft coos between pair; nest-site displays.

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Play calls on All About Birds Species overview Audubon field guide

How to know it

All black with stout bill; square-tipped tail in flight.
Smaller bill and different voice than Common Raven.
Often in family groups; large winter roosts.

Behavior

Uses tools and remembers human faces in studies.
Mob owls and hawks with loud alarm caws.
Cooperative breeders — young may help raise siblings.

Fun facts

Among the smartest birds — puzzle solvers and social learners.
Winter roosts can number in the thousands.
Distinguish from ravens by size, tail shape, and habitat.

Companion page for the Birds Coloring Calendar series by R. J. D. B. Fact summaries are original educational text or short paraphrases with source links. Call playback via link to All About Birds / Cornell Lab. Re-test QR codes on a phone before final print. Not affiliated with Cornell Lab or Audubon.