How to Identify aAmerican Crow
Corvus brachyrhynchos · 15.8–20.9 in (40–53 cm)
Male vs. female
Male
Entirely glossy black — bill, legs, and eyes included; a square-ended, fan-shaped tail.
Female
Identical to the male in the field.
Male photo: Wikimedia Commons / Wikimedia, CC BY-SA 3.0 · Second photo: BKleinWiki / Wikimedia, CC BY-SA 4.0
Field marks
- All-black plumage, bill, and legs
- Square, fan-shaped tail in flight
- Steady, rowing wingbeats
- Harsh, clear "caw caw" call
Similar species
What it sounds like
The familiar clear "caw-caw", plus a wide range of rattles and clicks.
Behaviour that gives it away
Recognises individual human faces, holds grudges for years, and communicates them to other crows.
Habitat & range
Fields, woods, towns, and dumps across nearly all of North America.
When you'll see it
Present all year in North America.
What it eats
Anything — grain, insects, carrion, eggs, and human refuse.
Did you know?
Crows recognize individual human faces and can hold a grudge, even teaching it to other crows.
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