American Crow Identification

The Four Keys to ID

• Size & Shape

  A large, long-legged, thick-necked bird with a heavy, straight bill. In flight, the wings are fairly broad and rounded with the wingtip feathers spread like fingers. The short tail is rounded or squared off at the end.

  Relative Size

  Nearly twice the size of a Blue Jay; about two-thirds the size of a Common Raven

  crow-sized

  Measurements

  • Both Sexes
  • • Length: 15.8-20.9 in (40-53 cm)
    • Weight: 11.2-21.9 oz (316-620 g)
    • Wingspan: 33.5-39.4 in (85-100 cm)

  © Henry Burton / Macaulay Library

• Color Pattern

  American Crows are all black, even the legs and bill. When crows molt, the old feathers can appear brownish or scaly compared to the glossy new feathers.

• Behavior

  American Crows are very social, sometimes forming flocks in the thousands. Inquisitive and sometimes mischievous, crows are good learners and problem-solvers, often raiding garbage cans and picking over discarded food containers. They’re also aggressive and often chase away larger birds including hawks, owls and herons.
• Habitat

  American Crows are common birds of fields, open woodlands, and forests. They thrive around people, and you’ll often find them in agricultural fields, lawns, parking lots, athletic fields, roadsides, towns, and city garbage dumps.