Crows Are Actually Really Neat, If You Think About It

Our Feathered Neighbors: A Look at the American Crow

Okay, so, you see them everywhere, right? Big, black birds. Crows. I have to admit, I used to just… not really think about them. But I was doing some reading, and honestly, they're pretty fascinating.

They're all over the place, apparently. Not just in parks or, like, the countryside, but pretty much wherever we are. Fields, roadsides, even city centers. They seem to be doing okay, even though people, um, haven't always been nice to them. There were times people tried to, well, get rid of them, but they're still around and seem to be adjusting to living near us. Which is good, I guess.

What really surprised me is how smart they are. Like, really smart. They don't just peck at the ground for worms (though they do that, apparently, along with seeds, fruit, and… well, everything. Even garbage!). They use tools! I read they've been seen using cups to get water and shaping wood to get food. That's… impressive.

And they're social. Not just a few birds hanging out, but huge groups, especially in the winter. Sometimes millions! Apparently, they’ll come back to the same roosting spots for over a hundred years. That's a long time.

They also have pretty complicated family lives. Young crows don't start families until they're at least two years old, and sometimes even wait longer. And a family group can include birds from five different years! It's like a really big, extended family.

The oldest crow on record lived to be almost 18 years old in the wild, but one in captivity lived to be 59! That's older than my grandma!

So, yeah. Crows. They’re just… around. And they’re a lot more interesting than I gave them credit for. Maybe we should all just appreciate them a little more? They’re pretty cool birds, honestly.