Fun Crow Facts For Kids

Crows are species of birds and belong to the Corvus family. Crows, just like any other species of birds, have two eyes. The eyes are black in color, along with a thick bill, feather, legs, and tail. Some varieties of crows have shades of green or purple in the neck areas.

Crows do kill other birds, eat young nestlings from their nest and eggs of different bird species. This is because these birds are territorial and protect their nests and territories from other predators. The young chicks of crows often don't make it to adulthood because of such predators.

They are highly intelligent birds and need lots of space to move around freely. They also eat leftover food, young nestlings of other species from their nest, fish, and invertebrates, and are thus aptly called scavengers.

They are very important to the environment and helps to keep it clean. The life expectancy of such birds reduces significantly when living in captivity versus the wild.

If these facts about the crows are interesting, then read on, and afterward check out these swallow-tailed kite facts and the hyacinth macaw facts.
 

Crow Interesting Facts

What type of animal is a crow?

The crow is a bird and belongs to the genus Corvus.

What class of animal does a crow belong to?

Crows from the family Corvidae, also known as the common raven, belongs to the class Aves.

How many crows are there in the world?

There are no specific numbers available regarding crows' population, but Birdlife International estimates the American crow (Corvus brachyrhynchos) to be approximately 31 million.

Where does a crow live?

Crows from the genus Corvus can be found near communal roosts with human habitations or well-lit areas near food sources and tall trees. They can be found in areas with lots of human activity as food will be readily available at such places.

They are found across continents in many areas such as North America, Asia, Europe, and Central America.

What is a crow's habitat?

The habitat of crows from the family Corvidae differs in different environments. These species of birds are highly adaptable and are found in grasslands, forests, agricultural areas, and farmland, and even in deserts, mountains, rocky cliffs, and arctic tundra. They make use of every possible habitat.

Who do crows live with?

There are certain types of crows of genus Corvus that live solitary. But they can be seen foraging in groups. Other crows live in large groups. The group of crows is often termed the murder of crows as they band together and chase off predators. This behavior of the murder of crows is known as mobbing.

How long does a crow live?

The lifespan of crows differs, and an American crow (Corvus brachyrhynchos) lives for seven to eight years while an Australian raven lives for 22 years. The carrion crow (Corvus corone) lives for only four years, whereas the common raven lives for 10-15 years.

How do they reproduce?

Crows are birds of family Corvidae that reproduce just like other birds by mating with a pair. American crows are monogamous cooperative breeding birds. They mate for life with their pairs and form large families of birds, up to 15 individuals.

They stay together for several years, and the offspring of the previous season assist the family in rearing new nestlings. The crows lay around three to six eggs in a single clutch, and the incubation takes 18 days. Adults fledge the young for 36 days.

What is their conservation status?

According to the IUCN, the conservation status of these birds, crows, from the family Corvidae is Not Extinct. The American crows are termed as Least Concern birds, and the population of crows is increasing. The American crow is federally protected by the Migratory Bird Treaty Act. The white-necked crow is tagged as Vulnerable.

Crow Fun Facts

What do crows look like?

There are different crows, with the general appearance being the same as other birds crows and some minor changes. The American crow is a species of bird that is distinct and large, with black feathers all over the body. The bill, legs, and feet are black. The males are, in general, larger than the females.

The carrion crow (Corvus corone) has black plumage with shades of purple or green. The bill, legs, and feet are black like other crows.

The Hawaiian crow (Corvus hawaiiensis) has the looks and size same as that of a carrion crow. The significant difference is the rounded wings and thicker bill. The plumage is soft with brownish-black color along with bristly, long throat feathers.

How cute are they?

Crows may not seem to be cute birds for some because of their appearance and the places they live. They have mainly termed scavengers as they consume leftovers and are therefore found in dirty areas. The full black body, along with the bill and legs, does not seem to be attractive for some.

How do they communicate?

Crows are capable of emitting a large variety of sounds. The most common sound of communication is using the caw. They use the caw from quite a distance to communicate with their peers.

The caw used also means different at different times depending upon the speed, energy, timbre, and the number of repetitions. Crows follow a complex mechanism of communication.

They also perform roosts in the community. Such roosts are done to exchange information or to find mates. Crows also flock and roost together at night to keep themselves warm and protect them from the predator.

How big is a crow?

The American crow is a large, distinct bird with an approximate length that ranges from 16-21 in (44-53 cm). The wingspan is within the range of 85-100 cm (33-39 in). The American crows are around four to five times larger than the Parula.

How fast can a crow fly?

The American crows can fly at speeds that range from 30-60 mph (38-96 kph) and can attain 70 mph (112 kph) while diving.

How much does a crow weigh?

The weight of a crow varies with its type. The carrion crow weighs 1.14 lb (520 g), while the American crow weight range from 0.70-1.36 lb (320-620 g). The Australian raven weighs 1.43 lb (650 g).

What are the male and female names of the species?

There isn't any specific name, and the species is only called a male crow or female crow.

What would you call a baby crow?

A baby crow is called a chick.

What do they eat?

Crows are omnivorous and eat anything, which is why they are called scavengers. They feed on invertebrates, leftovers of human food, eggs, seeds, and young nestlings of other bird species from their nest. They also feed on stranded fish and grains. American crows are more dependent on acorns and nuts and prey on frogs, mice, and other small animals.

Are they dangerous?

Crows may sometimes act dangerous while protecting their offspring. They are incredibly territorial and defend their nests from any threats. These birds are known to strike humans repetitively by bomb-diving until the human has moved away. They can injure a human by mobbing with a murder of crows or can be called the group of crows.  

Would they make a good pet?

No, crows will not make good pets as they are not meant for captivity.

Did you know...

Crows are birds that are afraid of shiny objects. As a result, many people hang shiny objects in their yard to keep away crows.

Wild crows and ravens are similar in appearance. A raven is bigger in size and more vocal than a crow. But crows are found to be much more aggressive than ravens as crows attack in mobs. The average wingspan of ravens can range from 39-59 in (100-150 cm), which is relatively more than crows.

Wild crows are such types of birds that can be very dangerous for humans and other animals. This is because these birds are extremely territorial and attack mobs to defend their nests and chicks. They also perform bomb-diving to attack humans until the human moves away to some distance.

Different types of crow

There are different types of crow which are as follows: Carrion crow, Large-billed crow, American crow, Hooded crow, House crow, Little crow, New Caledonian crow, Hawaiian crow, and Northwestern crow.

There are no significant differences among these varieties of crows. Differences in size and color can be observed among these varieties. Wild crows are found all over the world and in several habitats.

The American Crow is located in the North American agricultural land and streets of New York. The American Crow is similar in size and structure to the hooded crow found in Northern Ireland.

The hooded crows in Northern Ireland are locally called gray crows. The New Caledonian crow is located in the islands of New Caledonia. The Hawaiian crow is found in areas of higher elevation and in forests where Acacia trees are found.

Crows and ravens are almost similar, with the latter being more vocal and bigger. Ravens are usually solitary or small flocks and form pairs only during the breeding season. The wingspan of ravens is also much more than crows. Ravens also undertake courtship flight by performing aerial acrobatics to impress its pair.

Costs and benefits of crows

Crows are birds that are beneficial for controlling insects and help in the restoration of forests. Crows consume many insects, worms, and caterpillars in a single nesting season and therefore keep a check on their growth.

Crows are good for the environment as they consume seeds, due to which they store and transport them. This results in the renewal of forests.

If crows are considered based on literature, they are a bad omen and are often associated with witches. They steal and eat other species of bird's eggs and young nestlings from their nest, stranded fish which reduce their population. Crows are considered effective predators.

Crows are very intelligent birds and have the largest brain. The brain to body ratio is the largest of any other bird species. These birds can also make tools on their own.

Just like squirrels, they also hide their food from other animals. They hide them in between their feather so that other animals cannot track the food. Crows also hold funerals for a deceased member of their group, which makes them special from other animals.

During winter, almost all varieties of crows react in the same way. Some crows stay put to where they live during the harsh winter, while some migrate to warm regions. They return only after the winter season has passed away.

Here at Kidadl, we have carefully created lots of interesting family-friendly animal facts for everyone to discover! For more relatable content, check out these palm warbler facts and eastern kingbird facts pages.

You can even occupy yourself at home by coloring in one of our free printable Crow coloring pages.