As the winter chill sets in, American Crows start congregating. A crowd of corvids can seem intimidating, even ominous. And for those who live close to a roost, the birds can be a noisy and messy nuisance.
But take a closer look, and you might start to think differently. “Crows are really, really social,” says Anne Clark, a behavioral ecologist at Binghamton University. Crows form sophisticated multigenerational societies, with family units of up to 15 birds including a breeding pair, mischievous one-year-olds, older siblings, and extended relatives. Together they find food, defend their territory, and raise young. There are many delights for the aspiring crow-watcher, as every caw, flap, and feather ruffle reveals how smart and adaptable these birds are.
Every caw, flap, and feather ruffle reveals how smart and adaptable these birds are.
The crow’s social-butterfly lifestyle is on display during the coldest months, when family groups do the most mingling with their neighbors. This makes winter a great time to start your crow-watching journey. During the day, look for small loose flocks, often made up of younger birds following older ones to forage. By late afternoon, the corvids will start returning to their roosts high in the trees, where they gather in large numbers to socialize and sleep. In late winter, communal roosts can host hundreds, thousands, or even more than a million crows. They offer boundless entertainment: Watch for squabbles between feuding families and for young birds interacting—perhaps the blossoming of a friendship or courtship.
The youngest crows, hatched the previous spring, can be especially exciting to observe in winter. This social time is important to their early development. “Crows take a relatively long time to grow up,” says Clark. The corvids usually don’t start families of their own until they’re a few years old, so spending time in large winter flocks and interacting with other birds help youngsters avoid predators—there’s safety in numbers—while learning skills like where to find the best food sources. They also build bonds that will one day help them establish territories and families of their own.
As winter turns to spring, communal roosts disperse into individual families, but the joys of crow-watching continue through the year. Breeding season brings fights between males to court a female, and by late March nest construction will be underway in the treetops. Watch closely to see if you can spot yearlings in the mix: Look for a sharp color contrast in their wings between newer, blue-black feathers and older, brownish ones. Visibly unkempt feathers, especially a ragged tail edge, also indicate a yearling. These older siblings and other helpers might bring food to the brooding mother or to nestlings.
Typically out of the nest by June, fledglings are the same size as adult crows but often even scruffier than yearlings; they’re also distinguished by a yellow or pinkish tinge to the skin at the edges of their bills, as well as by their blue eyes (adults’ eyes are dark). You might see them chasing older crows and begging for food, bright pink mouths agape. Come September, if you hear a crow making strange noises, it’s likely a fledgling practicing its caw.
“I think what a lot of people find so fascinating is they can really relate to what crows do,” Clark says. Crows have homes, share knowledge, and establish communities, and researchers are just beginning to understand their complex social behavior and personalities. So whether you live in the city or a more secluded place, consider the crow. There’s still much to be discovered.
This story originally ran in the Winter 2024 issue as “Meet the Neighbors.” To receive our print magazine, become a member by making a donation today.
