American Crows: Anything But Ordinary

American Crows: Anything But Ordinary

Look up into the trees around your Texas home, and you’ll likely spot some large black birds observing their surroundings with remarkable intelligence. These are American crows (Corvus brachyrhynchos), and they’re among the most intriguing birds you might encounter in your neighborhood.

What Do American Crows Look Like?

American crows are impressive birds with glossy black feathers that can show hints of iridescence in sunlight. At 16-21 inches in length with a wingspan of 33-39 inches, they’re notably larger than many familiar birds like northern cardinals and blue jays. Their distinctive fan-shaped tail helps distinguish them from their larger cousin, the raven.

Young crows have unique features that set them apart from adults. They begin life with bright blue eyes and pink mouths, which gradually transition to black as they mature. While male and female crows look similar, males tend to be about 20% larger.

Where Do American Crows Live?

Throughout Texas, these adaptable birds are most common in areas with mixed woodlands and open spaces, particularly in East and Central Texas. You’ll spot them in neighborhood parks, suburban areas, farmlands, and along woodland boundaries. They show a particular preference for landscapes that combine open areas for finding food with tall trees for nesting and resting.

What Do American Crows Eat?

In your garden or yard, these resourceful birds demonstrate their adaptable nature through their varied diet. They’re particularly beneficial to gardeners, as a crow family can consume up to 40,000 insects during a single nesting season, naturally controlling pest populations.

Their diverse menu includes:

• Grasshoppers and beetles
• Caterpillars and cutworms
• Agricultural pests and grubs
• Tree nuts and seeds
• Fresh fruits and berries
• Small rodents
• Carrion (helping keep our environment clean)

How Do American Crows Help Trees and People?

These birds serve as important participants in our local ecosystem. They help distribute tree seeds, though often unintentionally. Like many corvids, crows cache (store) nuts and seeds for later use, burying them in various locations. When these cached foods are forgotten, the seeds may sprout and grow into new trees. They also carry nuts and fruits to different locations to eat safely, which can result in seed dispersal.

They also act as natural guardians of your yard. Their keen observation skills and warning calls alert other wildlife to potential dangers. Perhaps most fascinating is their ability to recognize and remember human faces, often forming positive relationships with people who show them kindness.

Family Life and Behavior

The social structure of American crows sets them apart from many other birds. They practice cooperative breeding, where younger birds assist their parents in raising new siblings. These family groups, sometimes including up to 15 birds, work together to protect their territory, gather food, and care for young.

Their nests showcase their adaptability and building skills. While they typically construct nests 15 to 60 feet up in trees, urban crows also utilize human-made structures like utility poles and buildings as nesting sites. This flexibility in nesting location choice has helped them thrive in both natural and urban environments. Parents collaborate in gathering sticks and twigs for the main structure, then add soft materials like grass and bark for the interior.

Living with Crows

To create a crow-friendly environment in your yard:

• Keep healthy trees for nesting and resting
• Maintain a reliable water source
• Preserve open areas for foraging
• Remember their intelligence and capacity for long-term memory

These remarkable birds enhance our local ecosystem while helping maintain healthy trees and gardens. Though we see them frequently in Texas landscapes, American crows prove themselves to be anything but ordinary.

If you found this information about American Crows interesting, check out our other posts on our TrueTreeTalk blog. Follow us on Facebook to keep up with these and other posts. Check out our list of blog posts grouped by topic for more to read.  Also check out our posts about Blue Jays and Golden-Cheeked Warblers to learn about other birds.

*         *         *

ArborTrue is a science-based tree service company in the greater Houston area. We also serve Austin and other parts of Central Texas. We provide a range of services including tree trimming, tree pruning, tree removal, tree planting, arborist consultations, and more. Call us today at 832-980-8733 (Houston) or at 512-546-3833 (Austin) or reach out to us online to schedule an appointment.