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Besides being dark and mysterious, crows are extremely intelligent birds. So smart, in fact, that it might be a little bit scary. Even though their brains are the size of a human thumb, their intelligence, comparable to that of a 7-year-old child, allows them to use tools, solve problems, recognize people’s faces, adapt to new situations, and even plan for the future.
More examples of crows doing scarily smart things can be found in the list below, curated by our Bored Panda team. Scroll down to find them and make sure to upvote those instances that make you suspicious of how clever these birds are.
While you’re at it, don’t forget to check out a conversation with Anne Clark, professor of Biological Sciences at Binghamton University, who kindly agreed to tell us more about crows and their intelligence.
This post may include affiliate links.
#1
We've Been Feeding A Small Family Of Four Crows (Mated Pair And Their Two Year Old Kids) For Several Years
Last week two days in a row they left these gifts, pull tabs threaded onto pine twigs. This isn't only generous, it's creative, it's art. My mind is blown.
Regina Holt 10 months ago
If you are good to crows, or bad with crows. They will return the good or bad back to you. And this will go on through generations.
Wendy Hamilton 10 months ago
That is amazing. I've read that they will often give gifts but they actually made these which is incredible.
Sven Horlemann 10 months ago
Nice. Though, as a German, I am more puzzled by the (not making any sense) German sentence "Mit einem legt man immer Ehre ein!". I mean. What? 🙃
Son of Philosoraptor 10 months ago
Crows have much more compact neurons in their brains than mammals, and that's why they can be small but so smart.
RELATED:
#2
This Person Managed To "Adopt" A Crow
Lorraine Woollands 10 months ago
Not a crow, but when I was little we had cat. One day he got a Sparrow, my dad thought he had killed it, but wasn't dead ,but was injured. We took care of it until it was better. It came the next year with babies and hung around and let us feed it. Animals and birds do remember when people help them, it would just be nice if we humans remembered that too, and were nice back
Terri Rowland 10 months ago
That is just so sweet, it looks like a baby too, so I'm guessing that the two birds which had been circling the little one were most likely the parents, keeping an eye on their baby and waiting to see if he was able to fly out keep up with them... when he disappeared, it's likely that he had managed to fly back with his parents, but he also wanted to stay friends with his human, who had been there when he needed help, so he kept visiting every now and then... wouldn't surprise me if he is still coming to see you even now .. when he gets older and has a mate they will probably visit with their own little family... they're very much like us in some ways, that initial encounter was the start of a lifelong relationship between human and bird 🐦 🧘🏻♀️💜 I have a crow and magpie who have followed me from my house into the town, they wait for me to come back and then follow me back to the house again...
January Tempis 9 months ago
That is one of the very highest achievements you can reach in life!
#3
I Only Wish More People Were Like This Crow
HTakeover 10 months ago
Wouldn't surprise me to hear someone befriended the crow & would give them rewards for doing this.
Sue User 10 months ago
I was just thinking about a crow army trsined to clean parks for food/ rewards.
Load More Replies... Terri Rowland 10 months ago
This looks like it's 2 separate birds, the first one is fully black and the one underneath is black and white which is the colour of a magpie... the whole corvid family is very intelligent, they have a great sense of humour too and can often be seen creeping up behind cats or dogs and pulling at the hairs on the end of their tail before running out of range and cackling at them.. very funny animals 😄 and super intelligent when it comes to getting what they want...
Remi (He/Him) 10 months ago
It's a hooded crow. They're more common than the pure black version in European cities. We have a group of about 5-7 hanging around nearby
Remi (He/Him) 10 months ago
It's a hooded crow. They're more common than the pure black version in European cities. We have a group of about 5-7 hanging around nearby
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Janissary35680 9 months ago (edited)
That second pic is one of our streetwise Izmir crows. (Look at the lettering on the bin.) Smarter than your average crow. BTW it could be taking the plate OUT of the bin.🤷♂️
Riley Quinn 9 months ago
Since crows remember people, I hope it poops on the litterbug the next time it sees them.
“There is no universally agreed-on test for "intelligence" across species, but we think of crows and some other animals as particularly smart because they can approach new or unfamiliar problems and often find new solutions,” Anne Clark, professor of Biological Sciences at Binghamton University, told Bored Panda.
“This is different from just being quick to learn a task such as a dog learning "sit up and beg" for a food item with repetitive rewards. They seem to use a process of "insight" into some problems, understanding the problem per se,” she explained.
#4
So Cute
Dee Rutherford 10 months ago
He’s gifting the boy back for his kindness. As long as he keeps it up and up is nice to the crowd, it will remember him and bring him shiny things.
Riley Quinn 9 months ago
I feed the pigeons, starlings, and house sparrows twice a day from my porch (all invasive birds, I know, but it's all I get in the city). They know who I am and where I live, and if I'm not out at my usual time, they line up on my porch looking in the glass door.
Colleen Glim 9 months ago
I’ve been putting bird seed on my back step every winter for years now. The local squirrel is almost eating out of my daughter’s hand. It started as a way to keep my indoor cats amused and spiralled from there
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#5
Crows Copying The Way Humans Caw
Terri Rowland 10 months ago
😂 😆 😂 😆 they've got a better sense of humour than 90 % of the human population in my opinion... They are capable of forming a funny situation and can then demonstrate it to us so that we can understand what they are doing, thus sharing a joke with a completely different species 😉, we despite calling ourselves intelligent creatures, cannot do this with any other species but our own...
Riley Quinn 9 months ago
When I lived in the country, I got so many different birds coming to my feeders. The starlings were little devils, but their antics entertained me. One even managed to mimic the squeaking screen door hinge and another could mimic the landline ringing.
Colleen Glim 9 months ago
One of my budgies learned to imitate the sound of the Xbox turning on. Confused the hell out of us for a few days!
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#6
Crow Snowboarding And It's Using Plastic As A Sled. Crows Have Been Observed Engaging In Playful Behaviors, Like Sliding Down Snowy Rooftops Or Performing Aerial Acrobatics Just For Fun
meeeeeeeeeeee 10 months ago
I've seen crows and magpies sat on a roof top, all taking turns to fly down the side of this house where the wind was flinging them up real high. It was very cute.
Terri Rowland 10 months ago
If I'm right it looks like it's got at least one other crow watching how to do this thing with the plastic..I wouldn't be surprised if they then take turns at sliding down while the other one watches.. hahaha
However, there is a limit to what they can solve, notes Clark. “As shown by the crow species, the New Caledonian crow, which makes and uses probing tools in the wild, crows and other animals may not fully understand what they are doing that solves a problem.”
Crows are generalists, omnivores, and highly social creatures living in groups whose members are changing. So they are forced to “adapt” to their fellow crows, whether through cooperative or competitive behavior, which might be the reason why they’re so smart, says Clark.
#7
Crow Helps Hedgehog To Cross The Street
April Pickett 10 months ago
I saw a video of this, and that crow did keep poking him to get him to move. He kept it up until the groundhog was safely up the curb and on his way.
Günnie Frankenfurb 10 months ago
Maybe he just wants fresh roadkill? Smashed hedgehog is easier to eat than spikey hedgehog.
Terri Rowland 10 months ago
We need to show respect for this wonderful service that the crow is providing for the hedgepigs... he is pecking on the bum to encourage the hedgepig to go faster, crow is conscious that driver doesn't like to be kept waiting for too long... Notice how crow is lifting foot high in the air so that the driver pays attention and stays still for the hedgepig to finish crossing the road safely...
#8
A Friend Nursed An Injured Crow Back To Health After It Got Trapped In Her French Quarter Courtyard. These As Some Of The Things The Crow Has Been Bringing Her As Apparent Gifts
Debra Newell 9 months ago
Crows like to bring shiny things to those people who are nice to them.
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Terri Rowland 10 months ago
Very beautiful gifts for a kind, gentle healing helper.. if she continues to give the crow bits of food, then the crow will form a lifetime friendship with her, introducing her to the entire family in years to come.. she will have some very loving memories to tell her own children and grandchildren as they come along..
Mook The Mediocre 10 months ago
Stupid crows. I asked for an air fryer, but got a rusty screw from them. Bah.
#9
Gabby, Our American Crow, Has Mastered Connect Four As Part Of Her Enrichment And Frequently Squares Off Against Her Trainer And Caretaker Sean
Gabby’s record is 15-1. She has to let Sean win every once in awhile to keep his confidence high.
Terri Rowland 10 months ago
Clearly she has picked her favourite colour to play with, I agree with glowworm2 that if she doesn't let Sean win sometimes he might become depressed and unable to play with her...
“If we think about the different kinds of animals that are good problem solvers, they tend to be "generalists" in what they eat or where they live. They specialize in learning new ways to adapt rather than adapting very finely to a single way of life,” she explains.
“They are often omnivores—eating a range of foods—they have a broad range as a species and live in varied environments,” Clark continued. “Usually, these intelligent species are very social (primates, dolphins, and other birds like vultures) and one argument is that living with lots of other individuals selects for "social intelligence," the ability to interpret what others want or are likely to do, to know them as individuals and often to learn from them by some form of observation.”
#10
I Found This In The Spot Where I Feed My Crows Every Morning. It's Soaking Wet Because It Was Raining. But If They Did Drop It For Me, That's Absolutely Awesome
Terri Rowland 10 months ago
They're obviously giving you some financial assistance to purchase more food for them... be on the lookout for extra crows coming to eat with the usual group...perhaps they have asked family to visit them and don't want you to be shocked by the sudden increased amount of hungry beaks to feed 😋 😅
#11
Crows Are Hilarious. They Seem To Enjoy Having Fun Keeping Themselves Amused. Here’s One That Used To "Hang Around" Outside Our House
Just swaying in the breeze. He used to do this quite regularly.
#12
He Knew He Beat You Too, That's Wild
These intelligent birds can be befriended by offering nutritious food, which gives an opportunity to observe their behaviors and understand them more, says Clark. “They are complex, with lots of communicative behaviors, living in social groups and living a long time, so individual crows get to know you. Different species of crows (there are at least 46-47 around the world...crows and ravens, all one genus, Corvus) have slightly different social grouping patterns.
Some live only in pairs as adults, others like American crows, can have extended family groups on one territory, others, like fish crows, live in larger groups of unrelated birds of many ages, with regularly shifting membership, although pairs may stick together in those groups. So watching crows teaches you a lot about how social animals live without language per se.”
#13
Crows Are So Smart! The Bird Was Thirsty And What Matters Is "Water". There Is Solution To Most Things If You Think Out Of The Box
Regina Holt 10 months ago
Both crows and ravens are extremely intelligent and capable of many things. They are the most intelligent of all of the corvids.
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Beak Hookage 9 months ago
"As the crow drank deeply of the cool water he thought 'PATIENCE OFTEN SUCCEEDS WERE FORCE FAILS'".
#14
Crow Rides On The Back Of An Eagle
Janissary35680 10 months ago
Unless the raptor does a barrel roll maneuver, it's arguably the safest place to be.😄
Load More Replies... Nice Beast Ludo 10 months ago
I'm convinced the bald eagles are the wise teachers to the little baby black birds that live in the cell towers. They visited one morning and flew them around the sky in groups like in finding nemo. This really happened although it sounds fantastical
Angela Corvaia 10 months ago
Here in SW Florida, the Eagles and Ospreys have our little wrens (I think they are..very loud) watch their nest while they hunt, they squawk like crazy if there are intruders. I think…
#15
I Was In Vietnam Photographing Wildlife And Found An Eagle Pursuing A Crow For A Good While. After Watching Them For A Bit, They Landed And It Turned Out They Were Friends
Angela Corvaia 10 months ago
YES! It isn’t competition or rivalry, they hunt together and warn of dangers.
Sarah Bailey 10 months ago
Ahhhh that is awesome!!! Ooohhhh it would be Something if you were able to document their journeys together thorough the years. That's a Disney movie not made yet. "The Eagle and The Crow"
Even though crows can be very social and friendly, there are still things people should avoid doing around them, like trying to get close to their nests. “If crows are yelling at you, you are probably disturbing one of their nests or babies or are near a sick crow that cannot escape,” Clark said.
In case a person finds a young crow on the ground, they should either leave it (if it’s safe for it) or place it high up on the nearest tree, suggests Clark. “Parent crows will call and even defend. But young crows leave the nest before they fly well and can sometimes find themselves on the ground unable to fly up. Just making sure the youngster is off the ground in a bush or tree will give the parents a chance to call it to move upwards.”
#16
French Amusement Park "Puy Du Fou" Has Trained A Team Of Crows To Pick Up Garbage And Cigarette-Butts
For every piece of trash thrown into a bin, they’ll automatically receive a reward.
Annik Perrot 10 months ago
They did in Parc Asterix near Paris. There's that antique-looking figure with à big mouth that says "paper! paper!". All kids are scrambling to find paper on the ground and put it in its mouth, and then it says " that's good, thank you".
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Terri Rowland 10 months ago
Slave labour, it's different to doing things like this in a different setting, but these have clearly been exploited by their good nature and desire to please, humans should be ashamed to make these beautiful birds to their dirty jobs..
#17
That Is Frank. He Is A Solitary Bird, But Also The First To Figure Out That He Gets Quite Bigger Nuts In A Personal Exchange
He jumps up and down until I come out and give him one of the really big peanuts. I bet he is quite smug about how well he trained me too.
Maartje 10 months ago
Now I have to say it's easy to train quite a few animals to do this OR they start doing it by themselves. I feed a couple of handicapped squirrels. They come up to me ( I had one jump on my lap once) and with patience they even will eat out of your hand - which I DO NOT recommend, they don't see well and you might get bit by accident. Next thing I know, a raccoon that must have been observing this ritual comes walking up and sits next to the steps, less than a yard away, looking at me to be fed ( I don't feed raccoons) and basically saying "I am a squirrel". Nope. Not scared of them but you are asking for trouble. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sKd2SAim_6E
Beth Wheeler 9 months ago
Yeah raccoons are cute but can carry rabies, you don't want them around.
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#18
I Started Feeding Bar Nuts To These Crows That Are Regural To The Patio Of A Bar I Work At. My Collection Of Gifts Finally Started After 3 Months
Janissary35680 10 months ago
"Police have identified an employee of a local bar as the head of a ring of thieving crows that have been terrorizing..."
detective miller's hat 10 months ago
My boss and I started trying to attract crows years ago specifically so we might get some fun gifts. We have not succeeded, but instead now have a small army of squirrel friends.
geezeronthehill 10 months ago
I'd be walking around to see which car that key fits. Just to return it, you know.
Nice Beast Ludo 10 months ago
What if they drove you a new car lol I don't know why that popped in my head it's my dumbest thought of the day
However, don’t get enticed by the idea of bringing a young or even an injured crow home and trying to raise it—it’s illegal to do so in the USA. “You have to have special educational or rehabber permits,” Clark explains. “If need be, call a wildlife rehabilitator to ask what to do or take the injured animal to a vet.”
Something else people should refrain from doing is putting out food for crows that can attract other animals neighbors won’t be fond of, like cats, dogs, rats, foxes, or raccoons. Instead, “Peanuts in shells or dry pet food in small quantities can work,” advised Clark.
#19
My Dads Been Feeding This Crow And Now He Sits In His Van With Him
ghost gurl 10 months ago
i dont think it's that serious. i came here to enjoy some happy bird info. shh.
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#20
I Knew Crows Were Smart But This One Is Actually Dipping His Chicken Nuggets
Dawn Woolley 10 months ago
Here in Australia what we call crows are really ravens. I have a bird bath and often find bits of bread in it. The birds drop them in to soften them first. I've also found chicken bones in it too, probably from the bin outside the nearest KFC. It's not far from me 'as the crow flies'.
BrownEyedPanda 10 months ago
Why do think that a flock of crows is called a MURDER? 😉
Load More Replies... Terri Rowland 10 months ago
I wonder how far down he had to go before he found a ketchup tub with the lid still on? He obviously didn't want to use one that had been opened already, plus you can see the lid he pealed off by his little foot.. I hope he enjoyed his meal and put his ketchup container in the bin when he finished...
#21
Been Feeding Crows For A Couple Of Months And Got My First Gift Today
Another important point she mentions is that crows get the highly pathogenic avian flu (H5N1). They can be especially susceptible to it if they find food in poultry yards or around waterfowl. “If you find a dead or very sick crow, do not pick it up. But let your health department know. They may be doing surveillance for avian flu,” Clark said.
#22
Crows Are Incredibly Intelligent Birds Capable Of Recognizing Human Faces And Holding Grudges
If a crow feels threatened or harmed by a person, it can remember the individual for years. Additionally, crows have been known to warn other crows about dangerous humans, effectively creating a network of information shared among the birds. Their memory and social communication are part of why crows are considered some of the smartest animals on Earth
April Pickett 10 months ago
Does anybody remember Alfred Hitchcock's "The Birds"? If you don't know about it, watch the movie.
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Estelle 10 months ago
About 6 yrs ago, in winter, I was out early morning on a dog walk. Still quite dark out and we were heading toward one corner with a large Oak tree that was covered with crows all speaking together. I have never seen anything like this before. Every branch was full with crows who were all releasing themselves on one car parked under the tree. I couldn't identify what color that Subaru Impreza was however the owner clearly pissed off those crows. Or at least one crow and his tribe showed up and literally marked vengeance!
Depressy spaghetti 10 months ago
Crow to his mates: there's the b***h karen that threw a stone me caw at her caw at her in rage yesssss.
Becky Samuel 10 months ago
What I find equally fascinating is that while crows find it very easy to tell humans apart, even the most dedicated researchers cannot tell individual crows apart without marking them in some way (crows can tell each other apart visually without difficulty).
Pittsburgh rare 10 months ago
I *might* be a crow. I remember the face of m***********s for years
sara jahan 10 months ago
In Indian rituals it is compulsory to feed crows on some special occasions. Now they are nowhere to be found in the cities. That has complicated the problem.
Terri Rowland 10 months ago
I think this one had had a bad experience with someone taking pictures of it... he doesn't look too happy about getting his photo taken this time either... Put the camera down and walk away quietly...
#23
Crows' Cognitive And Problem-Solving Skills Are Truly Remarkable
Regina Holt 10 months ago
There have been many studies proving their intelligence and problem-solving abilities.
Terri Rowland 10 months ago
They have more intelligence than a lot of people who I know, and definitely more than every politician...
Simon Eppstein 10 months ago
if only I could get my wife to stack dirty dishes on the sink counter as well as this
#24
Crows Like To Pull Tails. Some Think It Is To Distract Another Animal From Eating Allowing Either The Crow Itself Or An Accomplice To Snatch The Food Away, While Others Think They Do It For Fun
Angela Corvaia 10 months ago
I think that it is mutual protection. I had a bird that would take my dog’s tail fur and then found out there was his/her nest in our yard. They both alerted us to strangers.
meeeeeeeeeeee 10 months ago
I've seen magpies doing this on my ma's street to cats. It's clearly for a game as the cat isn't eating at the time.
TotallyNOTAFox 10 months ago (edited)
Maybe just playing since crows also work together with other animal like badgers, foxes and wolves - they spot potential prey for them and in return get food
Max Fox 10 months ago
I once saw three hooded crows massing with a cat. It was early in the morning in an empty parking lot. The crows stood around the cat, and one would come up and peck the poor cat's tail, and when the cat spun around, another crow would come op from behind and do the same thing. The cat ended up running away and hiding.
Terri Rowland 10 months ago
It has to be fun 😁 😂 I have watched a single crow pull the tail of a dog at least 6 times and then he went after the cat in next doors garden and did the same thing... there was no food involved in either of the situations, so he was just doing it to amuse himself, a bit like the crow who liked to hang upside-down on the wire and swing backwards and forwards for enjoyment 😉 😀 they're like children with feathers...
In winter these birds are quite resilient so extra care for them from people isn’t particularly necessary. “Crows in North America have evolved with winter. They will search widely in flocks for food and gather in roosts for safety in the night. So if they are still around in winter, they are probably finding enough food. In northern parts of the USA, they migrate when it gets deeply snowy,” said Clark.
But out of friendliness or the goodness of your heart, you can still provide a local group of them with high-fat foods, which they’ll be likely to be enticed by in winter.
#25
Crows Are The Best Birbs
Upstaged75 10 months ago
There's a show about that rescue - it's called Hope for Wildlife because the founder is named Hope. I was just watching it. It's in Canada.
Terri Rowland 10 months ago
He didn't like the feeling of being unable to move his arm 😕 I hope it's just the angle that the picture was taken but it looks like he's got no beak ... I really hope he recovered and is now free and feeling much better about wearing jumpers to heal broken wings 🪽 (arms) he may have realised that they were helping him to get better and he has brought a gift to say thank you
#26
I Received My First Gifts
I'm a little late posting it but I received my first gifts November 26th and I've got to say, I didn't expect the feelings that accompanied those gifts, as someone who struggles daily with my mental and physical health, I am truly grateful for the love that they've shown me and for the joy that they bring.
Also, I bought a little pack of tiny crows to gift to them, I thought it would be fun to see if they accept them.
Terri Rowland 10 months ago
I also suffer with my mental health and have done since I was at school, when an animal of any kind shows affection it's a case of not knowing whether to laugh, cry or something completely different..I know it's a beautiful warm feeling that you get when you feel important to someone, they show you love in the only way they know how to, I get you 💯 in what you're saying... I'm so pleased you got a gift for your love to them at a difficult time, you do matter and you are important in the world 🌎 ❤️
#27
Crows Have Been Spotted Using Sticks To Extract Food From Hard-To-Reach Places, Even Bending The Sticks To Make Then More Effective
Regina Holt 10 months ago
I've watched shows on Public Television that shows the awesomeness of Crows and Ravens. They can do multiple-part tasks to get to their food. And yes, they create and use tools.
There’s still a lot more that we can learn about crow behavior, so Clark encourages anyone interested to make video and audio recordings of them. In addition to being a fun activity, the observations and recordings could also be a great help to bird enthusiasts and experts!
#28
Hooded Crow Having Fun Sledding Down A Snow-Covered Windshield
Crows are known for their high level of intelligence in mimicking human behaviors. They’ve often been observed engaging in acts of “play” with remarkably human qualities.
#29
My Friend Mr. Crow. I Feed Him By Hand. Sometimes He Pecks Me Gently And Tells Me To Give Food
BoredLittleLeafSheep 10 months ago
It happens, but it doesn't interfere with its ability to fly and it seems to be healthy.
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#30
I Was Weeding Today And Discovered That My Crowbros Started Planting Their Own Peanuts
Oerff On Tour 10 months ago
I would help them, and section of a bit more, and plant more peanuts
Terri Rowland 10 months ago
They've started farming, Next they will be trying to work out how to bake bread... If anyone can figure it out, it'll be a crow...
Untamed Snark 9 months ago
They may need to recruit cats to kneed the dough for them.
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#31
My Crows Have Gifted Me Texas
Victoria Howell 10 months ago (edited)
Texas. Wow, you must have been really mean to him! ( just kidding)
Admiralshallbethejudgeofthat 10 months ago
Idkkkkkkkkkkk Texas (IN MY OPINION DO NOT GET OFFENDED) is a lil overrated
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Admiralshallbethejudgeofthat 10 months ago
This deserves ALLLLLLL the upvotes!
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April Pickett 10 months ago
Nope. Keep it. If you own Texas, maybe you could straighten that mess down there.
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#32
Crow Dropping A Nut Into The Intersection So Traffic Will Run Over It And Crack It Open For Him
Janissary35680 10 months ago
I've seen crows doing that with mussels and walnuts. They prefer to drop them on roads because the surface is reliably hard and easier to hit than a rock.
Deborah B 10 months ago
They drop them on the street for cars to run over and break open. Notice the pedestrian crossing - crows preferentially use stoplights and crossings for this, because they've learned that there are reliable breaks in traffic.
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Moana Manana 10 months ago
We watched once at the sea how crows were flying at the beach, pick something up and fly to the street and threw it. It were oysters which cracked on the street. They then waiting when there were no cars and picked it up again. That was so cool and smart...
Damned_Cat 10 months ago
I had a young crow that I helped crack open a pecan by stepping on it. For weeks afterward, every time I went out in the yard, this crow would show up and put a pecan by my foot for me to crack.
Regina Holt 10 months ago
This is such a common thing for them to do, All part of their intelligence and problem-solving skills. They are smarter than some people.
XenoMurph 10 months ago
Sadly they can't run for election. I mean, fly for election.
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Ru Bee 10 months ago
The gulls and crows do it by us I think the crows have taught the gulls.
Load More Replies... Verena 10 months ago
My (very old) house has two chimneys, which are not used anymore and are blocked, and have roofs to prevent the rain damaging the walls. Each penthouse is the home of a crow family. My frontpath is tiled and strewn with snail shells, walnuts and the occasional shell or mussel they picked up from the beach. The small relatives to crows, blackbirds, are clever, too. The male ones love to invent songs and incorporate sounds surrounding then. Years ago one learned "car alarm" and happily teaches it to all his kids. The only sad part is that the smaller birds in my garden and the swallows in the stable are struggling with raising their kids.
cerinamroth 10 months ago
We live on a road that is lined with old oak trees all the way up to the primary school. My daughter and I like watching the crows sit and wait for the cars to mash up all the acorns in autumn before they hop onto the road and stuff themselves silly :)
#33
When A Crow Dies, Others Gather Around Its Body, Seemingly To Investigate And Learn From The Situation, Possibly To Identify Potential Threats
Michael MacKinnon 10 months ago
...You need to slide your sunglasses off when you say that.
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BoredLittleLeafSheep 10 months ago (edited)
I was once unfortunate enough to see a crow accidentally land on the wrong part of a power pole and get electrocuted. It fell to the payment (still convulsing) and other members of the murder kept swooping down and landing near it, seemingly trying to get it to get back up. I parked my car, got out, and carried it over to some soft grass (I had hoped it could be saved but it was pretty broken up inside 😢). All the others watched me, and when I went back to my car they all landed around it and made the saddest sounds. I cried all the way to work.
April Pickett 10 months ago
What if it's a funeral? They come, socialize, pay their respects, and leave.
Karen Krause 10 months ago
When I was in Germany, the place we stayed at had a crow. It was the pet of the old man who owned the place. When it died, they held a funeral for it, since everyone knew "Grossvater's Crow." During the burial, crows came and sat on the church roof, when it was over, they slowly flew away. They were silent for the whole thing. Until later when you heard the normal cawing.
megabeth 9 months ago
Seriously? Sounds like a fairytale! I so hope it's true!
Load More Replies... Terri Rowland 10 months ago
They mourn for the dead crow, like elephants 🐘 they also gather around the body and touch it, smell it and eventually move away from it... after years they may come to the place again and they look for the body, like it would still be there, they cry too 😢 animals and birds are like us in many more ways than we realise, they need time to grieve when one of their group dies, even our pets will mourn the loss of their friends, and their owners... we often don't think of it being like grieving though simply because they are animals and not humans...
Maartje 10 months ago
The worst thing I have seen was a murder of crows in my street screaming and lamenting when a hawk got a hold of one of them, they were all yelling at him and chasing.. now normally the crows are the neighborhood police and chase hawks away but this was different, it was horrid, the sounds they made, so sad.
#34
Was Sitting On My Couch When Suddenly A Crow Came And Left A Marble On My Roof
i was just sitting here when suddenly i heard some noise above me and looked up to see a crow on the skylight, it dropped a marble down, watched it start to roll away then went and picked it up and put it down somewhere where it wouldn’t roll away, then simply left, there’s a family of crows living in a tree right beside my house and they often stare at me when i’m skating in my driveway by there tree, but i’ve never fed them or anything, nor have i bothered them though. the marble has been there since yesterday now, was it meant as a gift?
Iridian 10 months ago (edited)
Yes, probably, it was meant as a gift. Especially if you believe in a higher power. Many animals speak with a higher power. The crow could be asking you to look into the more sensitive, spiritual, natural, and/ or artistic parts of yourself. But definitely, it seems to like you and to want to be your friend. Look on youtube for videos on how to befriend crows. Crows, in general, could be a Spirit Animal for you.
François Carré 10 months ago
Might be a test gift to see if you start offering something in return. Somehow they must know it works with humans.
Leap of Faith 10 months ago
And, given how curious they are, they might have wanted to see if the two things were made of the same material, which they indeed are. Glass gift for the glass roof.
Terri Rowland 10 months ago
Most definitely, you have been thanked for letting the little family of crows live beside you without causing any problems...
#35
Understanding Social Hierarchies: Crows Know How To Navigate Their Complex Social Structures, Recognize Dominance Hierarchies, And Adjust Their Behavior Accordingly
#36
Crow Engaging In A Phenomenon Called “Anting”. They Purposefully Rub Ants Who, Sensing Danger, Discharge Formic Acid, Which Is Absorbed Into The Bird's Body And Acts As A Natural Insecticide
#37
Like Parrots, Some Crows In Captivity Can Mimic Human Words And Phrases, Often With Surprising Accuracy
Oerff On Tour 10 months ago
When I was a teenager, a classmate found a young caw. He raised it, and kept it in his room during the night. It also learned quite a few human noises. Most were harmless, but he also learned the noises my teenaged classmate made that teenaged boys make in the privacy of their room, that according to his grandmother makes boys go blind. Occasionally the tamed caw would embarrass him...
Rinso The Red 10 months ago
Had a pet crow as a kid. He would copy the sound of us laughing and sound of the dog barking, outside.
realenancy170 10 months ago
I came across a crow in the wild that said "hi" and "how are you?" very clearly to me . I ran away and never told anyone at first. A couple of weeks later I read an article in the local paper about him hanging around a school nearby and talking to students. I told some friends and showed them the articles, I 'm not sure they believed me anyway.
Hobby Hopper 10 months ago
I can't remember where I read it, but someone suggested a lot of wendigo stories might just be crows or other birds mimicking humans, and I think about that a lot.
Hobby Hopper 10 months ago
...Or what if the crows are in cahoots with some predator, luring people in for the kill? That just occurred to me.
Load More Replies... #38
Theft And Deception: They Cleverly Hide Their Food Caches And Even Fake Hiding Spots To Throw Off Potential Thieves, Including Other Crows
Multa Nocte 10 months ago
I've been known to do that when my husband wants to eat my personally picked "special treat" items. ;-)
BoredLittleLeafSheep 10 months ago
Squirrels do the same, usually to protect their food cache from crows watching them.
#40
Clever Little Swoopy Sr Has Learned How To Maximize Her Almond Haul: By Following Me 4x, Making Me Think She Didn't See The Food I Left Her (So I Leave More)
When I go back, ALL the almonds are gone.
1st location, almonds were strewn in the grass. 2nd on the stairs. 3rd near the sign post. 4th under the trees. AND THEN she digged in. Puts in the work for her and her husband Daisy (that's right Daisy's the male) who is content with the first pile he sees. Unlike little Swoopy. She's my sweetie.
To note: I don't feed them everyday, but I do feed them frequently 3-4x a week, once a day.
#41
Smart Crow Has Impressive Problem-Solving Skills
#42
Crows Are Really Smart After All. This Crow Locks The Box Before Going Out
#43
New Caledonian Crows Use Tools To Forage For Food In The Wild. Captive New Caledonian Crows Have Even Made Hooked Tools From Wire To Obtain Food Despite Never Having Seen Wire Before
Iridian 10 months ago
It's amazing how even as of about ten years ago, it used to be said that only aardvarks used tools (the stick they put down into ant holes). It's very clear that animals are much smarter than they've been given credit, especially crows and non-human primates.
Ru Bee 10 months ago
Aardvarks don't need tools have you seen their tongues?
Load More Replies... ohjojo (you/your's) 10 months ago
aardvarks used tools? what about chimpanzees using tools? sticks to put down into ant holes and termite holes. that's the way I learned it.
Regina Holt 10 months ago
Any time there is a program on Public Television about crows and ravens I watch it. They are amazing, and capable of things people would never guess until they spend enough time with them and witness all they can do.
Eric Williams 10 months ago (edited)
aardvarks don't use tools. They are diggers. Anteaters have extraordinary long tongues for mining termites and other burrowing insects.
#44
They Really Are Quite Intelligent
#45
Australian Crows Get Around The Dangers Of Eating Poisonous, Invasive, Cane Toads By Flipping Them Over And Eating Only Their Thighs, Tongues And Intestines
Beak Hookage 9 months ago
The little bastards have poison glands on their heads they can use to squirt you right in the eye, and their skins are also deadly. But that doesn't mean the discerning predator can't still snack on one if they're clever about it!
Quinn 10 months ago
Didn't you see the "murder investigation" entry? (Wink. Grin.)
Load More Replies... #46
Counting And Understanding Numbers: Crows Have Demonstrated The Ability To Distinguish Between Different Quantities, Showing Numerical Cognition On Par With Some Primates
Lee Banks 10 months ago
If this band is still in my head when I go to sleep, this post will have more photos of Adam Duritz than your notifications can handle.
#47
I Feed The Crows At A Local Park, But Today I Found This At My House
Sarah Bailey 10 months ago
They will like to watch from afar, quite protective of loved humans I believe.
Terri Rowland 10 months ago
They must have followed you home on one occasion, then worked together to bring the gift to you 😉
#48
My Crows Left Me A Gift Today
Donna Sempek 10 months ago
I went for a walk in an unfamiliar neighborhood. It started to rain and I had difficulty finding my way home. A local crow showed me back to my apartment.
#49
Smart Sales Person Identify The Right Customer, Take Bold Approach And Have His Big Order From One Customer. Not So Smart Sales Person Put Hard Work Scouting For Small Small Orders
Can't blame pigeon though whose intelligence is around a 2-year-old child while crow's intelligence is of a 7-year-old human child.
Blue Bunny of Happiness 10 months ago
Smarter than some 40 years olds I’ve met!
Load More Replies... HTakeover 10 months ago
It's a bizarre metaphor saying to work smarter, not harder while not blaming the less smart... and using comparative intelligence of a pigeon and crow as examples.
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What do you think ?
Otto Katz 10 months ago
Badly worded poll. I already treat birds great. Heated bird bath, food, hummingbird feeder, bird houses, what more could they want?
Na Schi 10 months ago
Exactly my thoughts. I would have to chose "Not at all".
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Maartje 10 months ago
I am a bird owner and my crow Morgan was the first bird I ever owned. He is gone now but I miss him more than any other pet I ever had. I would adopt a baby crow again in a second. They are amazing, rambunctious, funny and fun loving,birds that will never cease to amaze you with their intelligence, love and loyalty. But be aware, they are trouble in small packages, simply because of their innate curiosity and I could tell you some crazy stories about stuff they can do.
Emilu 10 months ago
FFS, it’s been proven in multiple studies (google it) if you have five year olds or younger the crows are prolly smarter than your kid. I hate when people underestimate animals just because they’re not human.
Deborah 10 months ago
Crows are amazing. Ravens, too, although in a lot of places where you see a lot of crows you don't always see a lot of ravens.
BoredLittleLeafSheep 10 months ago
Crows tend to stick to urban areas and ravens tend to prefer wilderness areas, although there is some overlap.
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Justme Again 10 months ago
I loved this thread. I had no idea crows were so intelligent and socialized. Fascinating.
Max Fox 10 months ago
While some of these are anthropomorphizing (because we don't really know what crows are thinking or feeling), there is absolutely no question that crows and ravens are super smart, and that even adult crows engage in activities because the activities are "fun". Not like the play of many young mammals that helps them learn adult behavior, and not like animals engaging in behaviors that cause physical pleasure. The closest behavior that we know is humans doing stuff for fun. The swinging behavior that people showed here, multiple cases on crows "sledding", crows messing with other animals for no apparent reason than to get a response, etc. They also seem able to make the connection between their emotions and those expressed by other species. Like humans, they can also be a$$holes, which is why they mess with other animals.
Maartje 9 months ago
Like most birds, they love drama and for that reason they greatly enjoy teasing animals and people. I have told some stories in this post about the crow I had but I have seen other corvids behave in the same manner. One incident that stuck with me was watching two ravens purposely flying through a tree that housed a murder and the racket of protest they caused- all they did was fly through and when they came out I would swear they were chuckling.
Load More Replies... Otto Katz 10 months ago
Badly worded poll. I already treat birds great. Heated bird bath, food, hummingbird feeder, bird houses, what more could they want?
Na Schi 10 months ago
Exactly my thoughts. I would have to chose "Not at all".
Load More Replies... Maartje 10 months ago
I am a bird owner and my crow Morgan was the first bird I ever owned. He is gone now but I miss him more than any other pet I ever had. I would adopt a baby crow again in a second. They are amazing, rambunctious, funny and fun loving,birds that will never cease to amaze you with their intelligence, love and loyalty. But be aware, they are trouble in small packages, simply because of their innate curiosity and I could tell you some crazy stories about stuff they can do.
Emilu 10 months ago
FFS, it’s been proven in multiple studies (google it) if you have five year olds or younger the crows are prolly smarter than your kid. I hate when people underestimate animals just because they’re not human.
Deborah 10 months ago
Crows are amazing. Ravens, too, although in a lot of places where you see a lot of crows you don't always see a lot of ravens.
BoredLittleLeafSheep 10 months ago
Crows tend to stick to urban areas and ravens tend to prefer wilderness areas, although there is some overlap.
Load More Replies... Justme Again 10 months ago
I loved this thread. I had no idea crows were so intelligent and socialized. Fascinating.
Max Fox 10 months ago
While some of these are anthropomorphizing (because we don't really know what crows are thinking or feeling), there is absolutely no question that crows and ravens are super smart, and that even adult crows engage in activities because the activities are "fun". Not like the play of many young mammals that helps them learn adult behavior, and not like animals engaging in behaviors that cause physical pleasure. The closest behavior that we know is humans doing stuff for fun. The swinging behavior that people showed here, multiple cases on crows "sledding", crows messing with other animals for no apparent reason than to get a response, etc. They also seem able to make the connection between their emotions and those expressed by other species. Like humans, they can also be a$$holes, which is why they mess with other animals.
Maartje 9 months ago
Like most birds, they love drama and for that reason they greatly enjoy teasing animals and people. I have told some stories in this post about the crow I had but I have seen other corvids behave in the same manner. One incident that stuck with me was watching two ravens purposely flying through a tree that housed a murder and the racket of protest they caused- all they did was fly through and when they came out I would swear they were chuckling.
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