by Jordyn E Pimental
Hallmarked by their distinctive sound, one may find the American crow a fascinating gothic symbol while others may simply find them annoying. On a rainy Thursday, during my walk to a morning class, discovering the campus was alive with bird songs, I decided I would write about the first call that I could identify. This brings us to this exciting crow, whose unique, “caw” was the first of many birds I picked up on this day. Following the call to no other than the garbage bins outside of the Grossman Commons, I observed this bird and now present to you a plethora of information you might not have known about what is ranked as the second most common to be spotted around Campus during this time of year by Merlin Bird ID: the American Crow.
Plumage and Personality
Fully black, including their beaks, as stated by Audobon Field Guide or AFG, American crows are quite intelligent. Although they may be spotted on their own during the daytime, they are in fact very social animals and usually settle down at night in large groups. It is said that thousands of crows may roost together, particularly on cold nights to share warmth with one another. One might confuse an American crow with its slightly smaller relative, the Fish crow (which I have also spotted around campus before), or its larger relative, the raven. To be sure that what you have spotted is an American crow, make sure it is around seventeen to twenty-one inches, or, in the words of AFG, about the size of an adult herring gull or mallard duck.
According to the American Bird Conservancy, these birds form long-term bonds and prefer to live in family groups. American crows wait until they are older to go off on their own and mate, and typically do so once they are two to four years old. Unlike many other birds, instead of pursuing independence young, they prefer to stay with their parents and help raise their newer relatives. Their nests are usually hidden from prying eyes, high up in a pine or other similar tree. The young can rest easy as they are fiercely protected by their older siblings and relatives.
Bad Reputation
These crows are constantly surrounded by misinformation, being heavily associated with bad fortune or witchcraft. Their bad reputation as “scary” or as being “pests” has stuck over the years, so much so that a group of crows is sometimes called a “murder”. In reality, the American crow is a peaceful forager who has earned the name “intelligent survivor” due to a long history of dodging disease and hunting. Their resilient nature and interesting personality have made them extremely iconic, as they will be for many years to come.