Something to Caw About: The American Crow

By Cindy Murphy
Published on October 7, 2011
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Though the crow is often viewed as an annoyance, in myth and folklore, the bird appears as a prophet, a matchmaker, an intellect, a guardian, and a fertility specialist.
Though the crow is often viewed as an annoyance, in myth and folklore, the bird appears as a prophet, a matchmaker, an intellect, a guardian, and a fertility specialist.
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Research done with American Crows in captivity reveals they can count, have the ability to solve intricate puzzles, have visual and vocal recognition, and have an uncanny memory.
Research done with American Crows in captivity reveals they can count, have the ability to solve intricate puzzles, have visual and vocal recognition, and have an uncanny memory.
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Though crows and ravens are easy to confuse, their physical features, calls and habitats are unique.
Though crows and ravens are easy to confuse, their physical features, calls and habitats are unique.

Mark Twain described the crow as “a gambler, a low comedian, a dissolute priest, a fussy woman, a liar, a thief, a spy, a professional hypocrite, a conspirator, a rebel, a meddler, an infidel, and a wallower in sin for the mere love of it.” He lists nearly 30 “damnable traits,” explaining “(the crow’s) life is one long thundering ecstasy of happiness, and he will go to his death untroubled, knowing that he will soon turn up again … and be even more intolerably capable and comfortable than ever he was before.”

Twain’s crow is the villain of the cornfield, the horror of Hollywood movies, the coyote of the bird world, a lowly scavenger, and a nuisance. Loud and brash, he’s viewed as an annoyance, yet so common he doesn’t warrant our attention … except when he’s displaying one of his undesirable traits.

But the crow possesses many admirable traits as well. In myth and folklore, the crow appears as a prophet, a matchmaker, an intellect, a guardian, and a fertility specialist. A scavenger and carrion eater, he’s nature’s custodian. We share more basic characteristics with crows than some might care to admit. We’re both social creatures, with strong family ties; we’re long-lived; and our intelligence and adaptability ensures our survival.

Crows and humans have coexisted for thousands of years. Though the relationship has not always been a peaceful one, the subtle influence they’ve had on us is powerful. Crows have affected human culture in every part of the world, appearing in language, literature, folklore, art and music more than any other wild bird or animal. Admire them or loathe them, they’re everywhere, and the most widespread of the bunch is the American Crow.

The Common crow: common in name only

The American Crow (Corvus brachyrhynchos) belongs to the Corvidae or crow family, which also includes ravens, jays and magpies. A large bird measuring 17 to 21 inches, the American or common crow is entirely black from its stout, pointed bill to the tip of its rounded fan-shaped tail. Even its strong legs and feet are black. They walk with a regal strut, displaying an air of nobility as if merely hopping along like other birds are beneath them in status.

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