American Crow

Corvus brachyrhynchos

Explore this bird

Identification

Field notes

45 cm (17-18") Common throughout most of the continent. Woodlands, farmlands, suburban areas.

Large all black bird with a long, heavy bill and a fan-shaped square tail. Similar Raven is larger with a larger bill and in flight shows a more wedge-shaped tail.

Everyone knows this loud, common crow. It has adapted well to man. It will eat almost anything.

Crows are intelligent and wary.

Song: familiar, easily imitated "caw-caw".

Details in the field

Photo gallery

4 photos

Constitution Gardens Lake, in Washington, DC

Credit: Mr. T in DC

Credit: Maggie Smith

Walking in the Sheppard-Myers Reservoir, Hanover, Pennsylvania - December 12, 2008

Credit: Henry T. McLin

Credit: Dave Fletcher

Where it lives

Distribution maps

Source legend · original intervals

Loading the rebuilt map…

Unshaded in source · does not imply absence

Generic and winter maps may use different intervals.

Bird Advisor Identification rules 1 variant 2 rules

These are the observation paths the Bird Advisor can use to identify this species. Each rule is an alternative match.

American Crow

2 rules

Rule 1 11 criteria confidence 9

Did the bird show conspicuous or promient white in flight ?: No · Unknown
How was the bird SEEN BEST ?: In flight
What SHAPE were the wings ?: Rounded · Unknown
What SIZE was the TAIL ?: Medium · Long · Unknown
What SHAPE was the TAIL ?: Square or slightly notched at the end · Rounded at the end · Unknown
What colour TAIL PATTERN was there if any ?: None · Unknown
What colour was the BELLY ?: Black, purple, or dark · Unknown
What colour was the BREAST ?: Black, purple, or dark · Unknown
What was the predominant colour of the HEAD ?: Black, purple, or dark · Unknown
How BIG was the bird ?: Crow-sized
What TYPE of bird was seen ?: Hawk-like

result:395-american-crow:1:1 Source: 395 American Crow, row 1

Rule 2 14 criteria confidence 9

Did the WINGS have STRIPES or PATCHES ?: No · Unknown
What SIZE was the TAIL ?: Medium · Long · Very Long · Unknown
What SHAPE was the TAIL ?: Square or slightly notched at the end · Rounded at the end · Unknown
What colour was the BACK ?: Black, purple, or dark · Unknown
What colour was the BELLY ?: Black, purple, or dark · Unknown
What colour was the BREAST ?: Black, purple, or dark · Unknown
What colour was the THROAT ?: Black, purple, or dark · Unknown
What SHAPE was the BILL ?: Straight and thick · Conical and slender · Conical and thick · Downcurved · Unknown
What LENGTH was the BILL ?: Short · Medium · Long · Unknown
What FACIAL or HEAD features were noted if any ?: NONE of the above or a PLAIN unmarked FACE · Unknown
What colour was the TOP of HEAD ?: Black, purple, or dark · Unknown
What was the predominant colour of the HEAD ?: Black, purple, or dark · Unknown
How BIG was the bird ?: Crow-sized
What TYPE of bird was seen ?: Songbird (ground or perching bird)

result:909-american-crow:1:1 Source: 909 American Crow, row 1