MONTGOMERY-The American Crow (Corvus brachyrhynchos) or common crow is an iconic symbol of fall and Halloween. The American Crow is the largest of three subspecies found in North America measuring roughly 17-21 inches tall. With a large breeding population here, American crows are quite common in Alabama and can be found throughout the state year-round. Crows are intelligent solid black birds with a distinct “caw” call familiar to most and are commonly seen along roadsides, treetops, fields, or even your backyard. Their habitat ranges from open woods to urban areas and neighborhoods. Crows eat a variety of foods such as insects, small animals, baby birds, seeds, fruit, carrion, and garbage and can be quite crafty if there is something that they really want. Interestingly, young crows do not breed until they are 2-4 years old and instead help their parents raise young for the first few years of their life. Some families can include up to 15 individuals from several different years.
Photo Credit: Rick Davis
Although it is illegal to possess a crow as a pet, captive crows have been known to mimic human speech. The oldest recorded age of a wild American crow is 14 years and seven months. Large foraging flocks may have a negative impact on agriculture, particularly orchards and cornfields. There once was a bounty on them. American crows are a known carrier of West Nile Virus and are more susceptible to death by the virus than other species. They may have a positive impact by eating insects which would have a negative impact on agriculture. In Alabama, crows are hunted as a small game animal for recreation and sport when more desirable game bird species cannot be hunted.
Crows are cooperative breeders, which means both the male and female as well as younger siblings will help raise and
American Crow (Photo by Peter Pearsall, USFWS)
protect their young. Maturity in male crows is not reached until their second year. Breeding may begin as early as February and last through June. Nests are built by the male and female, usually high in a large conifer or hardwood tree. Females lay four to five light green eggs with brown markings. The female incubates the eggs which hatch in 18 days. While nesting, the female will beg for food like a baby bird, and her mate will bring it to her. Baby crows are helpless at birth and require parental care. They are nurtured by both parents as well as helpers who are their older siblings. The young fledge (leave the nest) when they are approximately 35 days old. Adult crows have been observed feeding young even after they have left the nest and are capable of foraging for themselves.
Large numbers of crows, from tens to hundreds of thousands, will assemble in the late afternoon in areas of large trees, and then move to a final roosting site for the night. In addition to family and winter roost groups, crows form what is known as floater groups. These flock participants probably lack mates. Some of these individuals spend time in the natal territories as helpers. American crows engage in a behavior called anting. A crow will position itself over an anthill and allow ants to scramble among its feathers, or it may pick up single ants or small groups and rub them into its feathers.
Media Release/Alabama Wildlife and Conservation News
