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Crow Communication is Cawfully Complicated

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Illustration by Adelaide Tyrol

“Caw! Caw!” Every spring we hear it. And my wife says, “that’s My Crow.” It’s apparently the bird’s name. She capitalizes it in her tone. I think she hasn’t bestowed a more formal name because she doesn’t know whether it’s a male or female.

My Crow is likely part of an extended family of crows that lives in our area. We think they nest in the tall pines on our south neighbor’s woodlot, but they forage over our woods and fields as well.

“How do you know it’s your crow?” I ask. “I can tell by the sound of its voice,” she says. “It’s different. Raspier. It makes a sort of throaty chuckle the other crows don’t make.”

This may sound improbable, but research has shown that crow voices vary by individual. “There’s enough information in [the sound] that, in theory, the crows could tell each other apart,” said Kevin McGowan of the Cornell Laboratory of Ornithology, who has studied crows and their calls for years. “It’s like human voices. Even though some may be similar, you can usually distinguish among them. I know that I recognized my dad clearing his throat from two aisles over in the grocery store.”

Crows – there are perhaps as many as 40 species worldwide, including the American crow, Corvus brachyrhynchos –  are highly intelligent. Some not only use tools, but create them out of straw, wood, or wire to access food. They also play. Recent research has shown that they employ analogical reasoning and recognize faces of individual people. They have a complex social structure and their nuanced communications reflect that.

A “caw” can mean different things, depending on how it’s used, the energy put into it, the timbre, the number and speed of repetitions. “Crows may be more complex communicators than other birds,” said McGowan.

McGowan has also studied the Florida scrub jay, a crow relative. He likens scrub jay to a romance language like Spanish, where pronunciation is pretty consistent. Crow is more like Mandarin or Vietnamese, very complex tonal languages where the same “word” can mean different things depending on tone and how it’s used.

McGowan considers himself fluent in scrub jay, but only conversant in crow. “I know when they’re talking about predators or their neighbors or they’re talking within the family. I know when they’re saying, ‘here comes somebody with a dog, we might have to watch out for it’ or ‘there’s a fox over here, let’s go yell at it,’ those kinds of things.”

After 27 years of studying crows, they still manage to surprise him, giving a call that he thinks he knows and then doing something unexpected.

There’s a lot in crow-speak that has to do with the timing of the notes, the space between them, and how quickly they are uttered, he said. In that way it may be as useful to compare it to human-created music as language. Think pianissimo versus fortissimo. Same notes, different delivery.

“There’s a call they give that says ‘heads up everybody, there’s a hawk.’ But they can also indicate ‘it’s getting closer, now we better hide.’ It’s the same word, but they speed up, ‘cawcawcaw.’ Finally they change into a very different vocalization, which means ‘hide,’” McGowan said.

The crow’s complex intra-species communication system reflects its complex social life. Crows generally live in family groups, with young adult birds sticking around to help their parents care for this year’s fledglings. In their home territory they’re always on the alert for threats, and quick to share information with the rest of the group. They’re quick to invite crows from neighboring territories to help harass an owl or a hawk. “They have a great neighborhood watch system,” said McGowan.

Crows from many families and neighborhoods gather in huge flocks, sometimes numbering in the thousands, on foraging grounds or at communal roosts during winter. It’s the crow equivalent of humans going to the mall or the beach at Cancun and hanging out with strangers.

McGowan said there’s a lot yet to learn about crow communication. New technology, ranging from GPS to directional microphones and acoustic computer algorithms, has the potential to vastly expand our understanding of what their lives are like, he said.

Despite their intelligence – recognized since ancient times – many people view these birds as a nuisance. Consider the word for a group of crows – a “murder.” McGowan really dislikes that. “It plays into people’s negative attitudes toward crows,” he said. “I’ve suggested changing it to a ‘bouquet’ of crows, but I’m not getting a whole lot of traction on that.”

Discussion *

Feb 02, 2022

I’m wondering if anyone knows whether crows have a certain word or call that tells the group it’s time to fly (away, off a tree). If so, please let me know. Thank you, Sharon

Sharon
Dec 13, 2021

An alternate collective term is “a caucus of crows”.

Jesse Chisholm
Oct 02, 2021

I befriended a small, young, female crow last winter, when it was -20° F and it looked like she was having a hard time finding food. I started tossing meat and fish scraps out for her and even though very hungry, she would look at it, peck at it, and fly off. It was two days before she took it. She is not stupid, imo. She started coming by at noon daily, to roost in my birch tree and, most days, get some food. Come spring, she started bringing a male with and although he would hang back, she would come right out to eat. He would wait till I went inside. Then, their feeding became frantic with the two of them grabbing any food I set out. They would fly off with it, returning in a few minutes for more. Sure enough, they had young to feed and soon, 5 more very young crows were coming around. Now, there are only 3 of the young ones left, likely due to the Coopers hawks that are always around. I was about to wean them when I looked out one afternoon and saw the whole family methodically eliminating any Yellowjacket or Wasp in my yard, while leaving the bees alone. I could go outside with my dogs and enjoy the yard without one sting all summer, on me or the dogs. Now, I feed them most days, my dogs just ignore them, and they are welcome in my yard anytime. They are noisy and wonderful.

Michael Pfaff
Jul 30, 2021

I have had the humble experience of befriending a crow I’ve named Charlie.  He loves to come every morning VERY early and caws until I go out and feed him.  The longer I take the more different his cawing gets.  About 3 weeks ago I heard some funny sounding caws and looked out to see Charlie, another adult and 2 youngsters.  He (or she) had brought the entire family by. Now they all come every day at least twice.  The young ones will come alone and cry til the parents come.  I know Charlie knows me and has passed onto his family that I’m ok.  They all look up at me while they’re eating. It’s quite the experience I must say. What an honour to have these amazing birds trust me like this.  When I hear Charlie I’ll say to my cat “is that Charlie” and he perks his ears up and runs to the window.  Now he knows the sound of “Charlie’s babies” too.  So cute.  I just love them.

Debbie
Jun 10, 2021

I was walking through the park this morning with the dogs when I heard a “hello”.  I looked all around and saw no one so I kept walking.  Then I heard it again “hello”.  I thought someone was playing jokes and then I heard it again.  So I stopped and looked up and there was a crow in the tree.  I waited and watched him and then he opened his beak and said hello.  Wow I was astonished.  I said well hello to yoy too and he said it again.  So strange, he must have learned this somewhere but I was relieved when I figured out where the hello was coming from.  :)

Jennifer James
Jun 03, 2021

I like the word “Murder” of crows.  It sounds Halloweeny.

I think a healthy fear of of crows is warranted.

They come into my yard and shit everywhere. I will never feed them in my neighborhood.

On the other hand, I have trouble getting their attention. If I’m on the mountain and I try to make caw sounds, they ignore me.

A random cat or dog will look me in the eyes. I don’t have to bribe them with food to feel acknowledged. 

That’s why most people take crows for granted.  Crows are everywhere and they don’t interact with us, even when we make the first move.

All you crow lover commenters are anomalies.

Also, is it even wise to feed crows? Feeding bears gets them humanized and potentially killed in the future.

Sa
Aug 31, 2020

We have noticed a symbiotic relationship between crows and squirrels.

We have a tree where squirrels have come to feed.  When a hawk enters the area an entire murder of crows will head to the tree and set up a perimeter.  If the hawk closes, one or two will break off to chase it away while the others remain.

Also, one young squirrel once dilly dallied in the middle of the street.  A single crow strafed him repeatedly from the middle of the street toward the sidewalk until the squirrel was safe.

chris
May 22, 2020

Thanks for the information! During isolation, we have seen such fascinating behavior and sounds from the crows in our area.

We agree that ‘murder’ is an unsuitable name. Maybe you can get ‘traction’ with this name suggestion -‘crew’?

Celia
Jul 06, 2019

Twice this month I’ve gotten out of my car in the parking lot and a crow has walked beside to the building door. At first I thought this was crazy and surely the crow would fly away but it didn’t happen. This week, was even weirder because the crow was walking closer to me and it was as if it was my pet. This time the crow stopped right at the office door and when I started to open the door, the bird flew away. Anyone else have this happen to them?

Maggie
Apr 20, 2019

When I lived in an isolated area of my small town I fed the crows every day in my backyard. I also imitated their call every time I put out food.They eventually came for the food but never they never came close to me. After putting out food I returned to my deck or watched them from my window. I often wondered what they thought of my (of my possible pathetic crow calls)

Barbara
Jan 10, 2019

I love crows. I have a family of crows I feed daily, they love their in shell peanuts, they get some at my house then follow me to work ( I only work about 10 minutes away) then as I walk in to work they fly with me, I do have one crow who will coo at me or even with me with his/her head down when I give the peanuts it sounds like whoo whoo whoo and it a quiet high sound, you have to be close to hear it. It’s so cute. When the crow does it I do it back, drop the peanuts, and the crow does it again then comes and get its peanuts.

Crowldy
Oct 14, 2018

I love crows. Lucky for me, there are lots of them where I live. I developed this habit of bringing a variety of nuts with me on my walks with my dogs, and whenever I see crows, I drop some nuts for them. They somehow learned when I live, and started to come in front of my home and call me. I can hear the difference in their call. Sometimes my family lets me know “your crows are calling you”. They know me and my dogs and the instant I drop the nuts, they know it’s safe to come get it. They don’t even wait for me to walk away anymore. I love them so much!

Hawke
May 20, 2018

I am fascinated by the corvids. I have been feeding both American Crows and Fish Crows in my suburban back yard for a few years now.I love feeding all birds in general but the crows and blue jays are standouts for me in particular. It has prompted me to read up on them.  I have read a few books by John Marzluff on the crow and Bernd Heinrich’s book on Ravens. If you’d like to learn more about these complex and highly intelligent creatures, I highly recommend those authors. (sorry I don’t have the titles handy right now..) I think either Nova or Nature also has a special on crows that you can view on YouTube. Their intelligence level is considered to be on par with that of a seven year old. (Ravens are considered even smarter than crows….) They play, conceal food from and spy on one another, recognize friend or foe via facial recognition, and communicate that information to their community… They gather to “witness “ and probably learn from the death of a fellow crow when one of them has died too. I have enjoyed learning about them. I do wish I understood more about how they communicate with one another.

I do agree that different birds have distinct and recognizable voices or calls. I can clearly tell the difference between some of my local birds. One of the crows who I believe might be the male of the pair that visit me daily, is quite bold and will come within 3-4 feet of me. If i’m late with the morning “meal” he will fly up to the kitchen window and peer in and call to me. It’s pretty hilarious! I love the interaction and I feel lucky to have be in these fab birds trust! I feed my guys unsalted shelled and or unshelled peanuts, left over eggs, sometimes berries or dried fruit. They especially seem to like the leftover PB&J sandwich scraps. They need to have salt free food and chocolate is considered toxic for them. Thanks for the interesting article and I enjoyed reading what Kevin McGowan had to say as well!

Mc
Feb 27, 2018

I am curious as to what “maa-maa-maa” means. I hear it quite a bit over the years only by one specific crow. I have my crow family of usually 3..sometimes 4 or 5. But mainly 2 or 3 on w regular schedule. Unshelled peanuts of course. And any other healthy scraps. One particular crow follows me when I walk my dog..and follow the car certain distances. I don’t ever feed them outside of my yard. He’ll call to me at these places…store parking lot, my son’s school 5 times. I think I’m identified as 5 to them. But I call him “five”.

J
Jan 10, 2018

I live in a densely forested area, with a large family of crows.  I have started mimicking their “crow talk” while going on walks through the forest.  They get quite excited & curious & will circle around me & land in the tree tops.  They seem to be trying to see me and will keep chattering away.  I would love to know what we are conversing about :)

Angie
Sep 18, 2017

I was in Granby CO visiting friends when we walked outside on a cold clear winter morning. I looked up to see four crows flying overhead at about 100 feet. I called in three sharp caws as they disappeared out of my sight because of some buildings. within ten seconds one had left the group and glided down and reappeared behind me at about 15 feet in height, gave me the “hairy eye” and rejoined the group. I must have “said” something correct cause it sure got a rise out of him.

Bill
Mar 18, 2017

I feed crows at the college I go to. Today I came out of my class and this crow kept swooping really close to my head. I wasn’t sure if he was bullying me or trying to get my attention or land on me. They always recognize me and caw and all kinds of them will join but today there were only 2 after class. They both landed next to my truck so I rolled down my window and told them i would bring more in three days. One of them bent his head towards his chest and said maa maa. I repeated it and so did he but he had to bend his head to do it. My mother is dead, I asked if it was my mom and his eyes looked silver and it walked away. I love the crows but that was strange.

Tracee Richardson
Feb 02, 2017

Has anyone had any experience where crows seek you out in different regions? I started by calling them with an app and feeding corn or nuts in my yard. Now, no matter where I go, they gather to me. Often people say they have never had crows there before. They use a specific call, and fight pattern too. We call it my fly-by. They also recognize my car and follow me to hike after work. I’m curious about knowledge of how they communicate..

Stacy
Jun 23, 2016

I love the crows too! I have fed ‘my crow family’ every morning on my deck railing for many years. They have learned to come quietly take the food and leave just as quietly. There are about 9 or 10 of them, some make a sound like a dog barking once in awhile.They taught me to put out 2 water bowls for them. A deep one for drinking from and a shallow one for dipping their food in!

Larraine Lamb
Jan 17, 2016

Thanks so much for this article. I have a group of crows that greet me most mornings as I’m going off to work. I call them my guards. I love their calls.

Cindy
Jan 08, 2016

Every morning my crow(s) call me from a nearby tree.  They are waiting for scraps of bread or other treats. Sometimes I give them pieces of meat trimmings which they choose first.  Once, by mistake, a few pieces of broccoli slipped in.  They are still on the ground.

Cathy MacDonald
Jan 07, 2016

I took a trip to Sapanta, Romania this fall.  While waiting for a minibus, I was delighted to watch two crows dropping walnuts onto the sidewalk below them to break the nuts open.  When this sometimes failed, they would drop them on the road hoping to have more luck. The Romanian man beside me could not speak English, but we both marveled at their intelligence and ability to come up with new solutions to old problems.

Melody Smith
Jan 06, 2016

From the description of its voice, I think “My Crow” is probably a raven. :D

Matt Bear-Fowler
Jan 04, 2016

So happy I stumbled upon this… Love crows!!! Every morning when I take the dog out, the symphony of hundreds of crows chattering away makes me smile.  Always wonder what they are chatting about… I enjoy the articles…

Rebekah
Jan 04, 2016

We have lived in this little neighborhood for a little over 40 years. In that time the area crows have developed from staying to the outskirts of the neighborhood to now actually nesting right in our back yard now and spend a fair amount of time on the lawn even when we are sitting out.

David Gomeau
Jan 04, 2016

Many years ago, I approached a flock of crows feeding at a sewage plant. I was carrying a single shot .22 rifle.  The look-out bird gave the alarm and they all disappeared. Later, I approached the same area where the same gang of crows were feeding (perhaps), and I was carrying a wooden look-alike to my .22 rifle.  Not a single bird moved until I was within 20 feet of them.  I repeated this test several times with the same results.

Fred Sladen

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