Buzz
Crows belong to the genus Corvus and are a common sight in many regions. Depending on where you live, encountering these remarkable birds on a daily basis is quite possible. Although they are not considered rare, crows are among the most intriguing species on Earth due to their extraordinary abilities. You may already know that they’re typically black and often travel in groups, but there are some astonishing facts about crows that might surprise you. Here are ten things you may not know about crows:
10. Crows Can Identify Faces and Hold Grudges
Research shows that crows possess an impressive memory for human and bird faces, especially those who have been either friendly or hostile toward them. Studies have demonstrated that crows not only remember these faces but also communicate this information to other crows. In some cases, this knowledge is even passed down to subsequent generations.
One particularly fascinating study involved two groups of people wearing distinct masks. Both groups approached a crow’s nest. One group captured crows and took them away, while the other group simply observed without engaging. Five years later, the crows at the site would aggressively confront anyone wearing the same mask as the group that had trapped and taken some of them. This experiment showed how deeply crows remember and respond to past experiences.
9. Some Crows Can Interpret Traffic Signals
Birds possess a greater ability to perceive colors than humans do. They can see not only the familiar red, blue, and green hues but also the ultraviolet (UV) spectrum, which is invisible to the human eye. Additionally, birds have superior visual acuity, allowing them to notice subtle variations between similar shades of color that human vision cannot detect. The cones in their retinas, responsible for color detection, consist of four types in birds compared to the three types found in humans. But do they truly understand the meaning of these colors? Perhaps they do.
On a university campus in Japan, carrion crows can often be seen patiently lining up behind pedestrians, waiting for traffic to stop. When the traffic light turns red, the birds hop onto the road and drop nuts. They then wait for the next car to pass over the nuts to crack them open. Once the light turns red again, the crows return to collect their meal. This behavior has been observed in carrion crows in Japan since around 1990, and similar observations have been made in California as well.
8. Crows Are Exceptional Mimics
Crows are known for their ability to imitate human voices and the sounds of various animals. Their talent doesn’t stop there; they often seem to delight in the confusion that arises when they mimic human speech or other animal sounds.
Unlike parrots, crows do not use their tongue to speak. Instead, they rely on their syrinx. Nevertheless, they possess a superior memory. Crows can learn and remember words faster than any other bird species. In zoos or wildlife parks where they interact frequently with humans, crows have been heard greeting people with a “Hello” when they spot them. Crows not only mimic human speech but can also be trained to comprehend its meaning.
7. A Flock of Crows Is Referred to as a 'Murder'
Crows are found worldwide, except in Antarctica. They're infamous for stealing crops and seedlings from farms, making them particularly unpopular with farmers. These highly intelligent birds are social and usually travel in groups. Crows are omnivores and natural scavengers, and they also feed on dead animals. Historically, they’ve been seen on battlefields, in cemeteries, and at gallows, always waiting for a potential meal. Their association with such grim places helped them develop a negative reputation over time.
Over time, crows became linked to evil, and various superstitions arose about them. One belief was that crows gathered in 'parliaments' and 'tribunals' to punish a member for misdeeds. It was said that if a tribunal found a crow guilty, it would be executed immediately. While this remains a superstition, it's true that crows do sometimes kill other crows in territorial disputes, lending credibility to the term 'murder.'
6. Crows Have Caused Power Outages in Japan
Since the 1990s, the crow population in Japan has surged, largely due to their ability to adapt to the country’s abundant food sources, benefiting both humans and animals. However, this increase in numbers led to some issues, as the crows began using electric and fiber-optic cables for building their nests. Some crows even chose to nest on electric transformers, which resulted in significant problems. To tackle this, utility companies began deploying patrols to dismantle crow nests on electrical equipment.
Between 2006 and 2008, crows in Japan stole nearly 1,400 fiber-optic cables from Tokyo’s power providers, causing about 100 power outages annually at Chubu Electric Power Co. In response, Chubu Electric Power Co. installed artificial nests high on company towers, hoping to prevent the crows from damaging power lines. This solution proved successful, as the crows began using the artificial nests instead of constructing their own. Japan was significantly impacted by these organized crow activities, with reports of crows violently stealing candy from children's hands and even snatching ducklings from Tokyo zoos.
5. Crows Are Capable of Making Tools
While we’re familiar with animals like chimpanzees and orangutans using tools, crows are also adept at crafting and using tools. The New Caledonian crow, for example, can fashion hooked tools by bending flexible materials. Researchers have demonstrated how these crows create and utilize tools both in the wild and in controlled experiments. In one such study, eight New Caledonian crows were given a puzzle box containing food behind a door, with a narrow gap that required sticks to retrieve the food.
In the first test, the crows were provided with long sticks that were sufficient to reach the food. Without any instruction, all eight crows successfully used the sticks to get the food. In a later test, only short sticks were provided, which the crows had to combine to make long enough sticks to retrieve the food. Four crows were able to join the sticks on their own. In an even more challenging test, they were given multiple sticks to combine into a complex hook to reach the food. A crow named Mango successfully completed this task.
Subsequent research has shown that this remarkable ability is not limited to just one species, but has been observed in other crow species as well.
4. Older Crows Assist in Raising New Chicks
Crows demonstrate fascinating family dynamics. Unlike most bird species, which typically leave their parents after fledging, American crows often stay with their parents for up to five years. During this time, young adult crows assist in raising their younger siblings, helping with tasks like nest building while awaiting their own breeding opportunities.
Interestingly, crows maintain family bonds even after they’ve left the nest. A particular case was observed by a researcher when a two-year-old crow decided to leave its family. Over a year later, the crow returned for a visit and was warmly welcomed. However, it left again the following day.
3. Crows Can Solve Puzzles and Demonstrate Analogical Thinking
Crows are capable of solving puzzles. In one experiment, a researcher placed a tube filled with water in front of a crow, with a treat floating on top. However, the water level was too low for the crow to reach it. Around the tube, a mix of small, light objects and heavier ones were placed. The light objects would not have had much effect on the water level if dropped in the tube.
The crow, without any guidance, began inspecting the objects around the tube. It ignored the light objects and chose the heavier ones, dropping them into the tube. As a result, the water level rose, and the crow was able to retrieve the treat. Not only do crows solve puzzles and plan their actions, but they also demonstrate the ability to understand analogies. For example, in two trials, if a crow receives a reward for selecting a specific object in the first trial, it will understand that selecting a similar object in the second trial will yield another reward.
2. Crows Hold Their Own Version of a Funeral
Humans have had a deep understanding of death and mourning for centuries, often participating in or observing funerals. Many cultures have specific funeral practices to honor the deceased. Interestingly, this concept of mourning and death extends beyond humans—other animals, including crows, seem to have an understanding of death as well.
When a crow dies, other crows gather around the body but do not touch it. Some researchers suggest that this gathering is part of a survival instinct—crows may be trying to understand the cause of the death. In a study conducted by Kaeli Swift, a researcher at the University of Washington’s Avian Conservation Lab, she regularly fed a group of crows. One day, she visited them with an assistant wearing a mask and holding a dead crow, observing how the crows reacted to the situation.
Crows Have Regional Accents
We’ve all had that experience, right? You’re trying to enjoy a quiet Saturday morning, but those persistent birds outside aren’t having it. Surprisingly, crows have more than 20 different calls, though most of us wouldn't recognize the subtle differences between them. Essentially, they have four main types of sounds—the familiar “caw,” the sharp “scold,” the affectionate “rattle,” and the begging “grunt” of younger crows. Beyond these, crows mix caws, clicks, coos, whines, and grunts to communicate. They vocalize to talk about food, warn of danger, or simply say “hello” to other crows. But if you were traveling far from home, would you be able to understand them?
We’ve already touched on the amazing ability of crows to mimic human voices and animal sounds, but their talents don’t end there. When a crow joins a new group, it learns the dialect of the flock by copying the calls of its dominant members. These calls, much like human accents, can differ significantly from one area to another, with each flock's vocalizations being distinct to that specific location.
