American Crow
(Corvus brachyrhynchos)
LISTEN (Recordist: Fred Rowley)
American crow. Photo courtesy Thomas Sanders.
General Description: Shiny, black birds with strong, stout bills.
Habitat: Found in most habitats in Washington, except unbroken coniferous forest, as long as it has suitable nesting trees.
Behavior: Outside of the breeding season, American Crows are sociable and form large winter roosts. They are intelligent and opportunistic, and quickly take advantage of new sources of food. Feeding is generally on the ground.
Diet: Omnivores, they eat just about anything, including carrion, seeds, the eggs and young of other birds, invertebrates, and garbage.
Range in North America: Found throughout most of the continent.
When to See in Washington: Mostly permanent residents, although they may migrate from northern regions in the fall. Flocks gather in large winter roosts.
For detailed information about American Crow, visit Seattle Audubon’s BirdWeb.