Our Resident American Crow

Princess

Brought to Sharon Audubon Center:  Fall 1995

History:  Princess was raised from a baby by a loving human family.  However, baby animals learn a lot from their parents and in Princess' case,

she began to think she was a human rather than a crow.  When Princess

was “set free” in Cornwall, she began to fly down to play with the people

of the town.  Sometimes, she would startle people and they would swat

at her putting her in danger of becoming injured.  Princess is fully flighted,

but would not survive in the wild because the other wild crows do not

accept Princess.  She does not associate herself with other crows, does not

communicate with them, and would rather play with a human than any

other bird.  Princess loves to have visitors and imitate lots of sounds.  Princess is a favorite among Sharon Audubon Center visitors, however, it is

important to understand that raising a wild animal is not only illegal, but also

is not in the best interest of the animal.

American Crow

(Corvus brachyrhynchos)

Average Height:  17-21 inches

Average Weight:  ½ - 1 pound, males are slightly heavier

Wingspan:  2 ½ - 3 feet

Lifespan:  6-8 years in wild, up to 20 years in captivity

Description:  The American Crow is a lustrous black bird from its beak to its tail, including its claws.  Both sexes have a similar appearance, and are difficult to tell apart.  Adults have brown colored eyes, while immature birds have blue eyes.

Call:  The most commonly heard call is a series of  “caws.”  Caw, caw, caw!  However, crows often mimic other birds and even humans when in captivity.  Crows are known to use about sixty-four different calls and signals to communicate.

Range:  American Crows are year-round residents in most of the United States, and summer residents in much of Canada. 

Habitat:  American Crows can be found practically anywhere, from open farmlands to dense forests.

Diet:  Crows are not picky eaters.  They are omnivores, eating everything from grains and  fruit to carrion, insects and young robbed from the nests of other birds.  Crows can often be seen in cornfields and pumpkin fields in the fall, and are commonly seen around garbage dumps feeding on food scraps.