American Crow

Corvus brachyrhynchos

Also known as: Common Crow

About This Species

Look for it foraging on lawns, parking lots, and farm fields in noisy family groups, or gathering into large communal roosts of thousands during winter evenings. The harsh, repeated caw carries a long way and is often the first clue before the bird comes into view. Watch for its distinctive walk, rather than hop, and its habit of methodically working a patch of open ground for insects and scraps.

Ethical Viewing Guidelines

In North America nesting crows are protected under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act, so give nests and recently fledged young plenty of distance and never handle a grounded fledgling that looks healthy, since a parent is usually nearby.
It is an adaptable, intelligent bird that readily takes handouts, but regular feeding encourages large flocks to congregate around people and can reduce its wariness of traffic, so it is best appreciated from a respectful distance rather than fed directly.

LCAvesPasseriformesCorvidae

Seasonal Activity

27,885,660 sightings · 2000–2026

Citizen science records via GBIF

All monthsThis month

Classification

Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Aves
Order: Passeriformes
Family: Corvidae

Photo

CC-BY-SA-4.0

Occurrence data from GBIF.