American Crow Corvus brachyrhynchos

American Crow Corvus brachyrhynchos

Common throughout much of North America, this large, black bird is a familiar sight in cities and towns as well as in open country and along the seashore. Crows are intelligent, and captive birds tested in puzzle-solving have provided many valuable insights into the learning process. American Crows are gregarious birds, and they form large flocks; they are sometimes joined by a handful of ravens.

Identification 17-21". Large and stocky. Black all over, with slight purplish sheen. Bill stout; tail squared.

Voice A raucous, familiar caw, caw, caw.

Habitat Open areas, woodlands, fields, suburbs, orchards, gardens, and city parks; tends to avoid deserts and dense forests.

Range Breeds throughout southern two-thirds of Canada and most of United States; winters south of Canadian border. Absent from much of interior Southwest.