American Crow
Corvus brachyrhynchos
Crows are among the world's most intelligent animals; they can use tools, solve multi-step puzzles, and recognize individual human faces for years.
- Scientific name
- Corvus brachyrhynchos
- Taxonomy
- Animalia › Chordata › Aves › Passeriformes › Corvidae › Corvus
- IUCN Red List status
- Least Concern
- Population trend
- stable
- Biome
- urban
- Habitat
- Open woodlands, agricultural fields, city parks, and suburban neighborhoods.
- Diet
- Omnivorous: consumes insects, seeds, fruit, small vertebrates, carrion, and human food scraps.
- Range
- North America, Canada, United States, Mexico
- Size
- Length: 40-53 cm; Wingspan: 85-100 cm; Weight: 316-620 g
- Lifespan
- 7-15 years in the wild
- Active
- diurnal
- Threats
- West Nile Virus, pesticide poisoning, and habitat fragmentation.
- Safe to approach?
- Harmless and highly intelligent. Maintain a respectful distance. Do not feed bread; use unsalted peanuts if feeding. If a fledgling is found on the ground, leave it be as parents are likely watching. If scratched or pecked, wash the area with soap and water.
The American crow ( Corvus brachyrhynchos ) is a large passerine bird species of the family Corvidae. It is a common bird found throughout much of North America. American crows are the new world counterpart to the carrion crow and the hooded crow. Although the American crow and the hooded crow are very similar in size, structure and behavior, their calls are different. The American crow nevertheless occupies the same role the hooded crow does in Eurasia.
Photo: Gordon Leggett, CC-BY-SA, via iNaturalist
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