Common Crow
What do they look like?
The common crow, both male and female, have entirely black feathers, bills, legs, feet and claws. The body plumage and wings have a violet
iridescence in strong light. They weigh about 1 lb. and have a wingspan up to
36”. Their eyesight and hearing is superb. They make a variety of sounds but
their “caw-caw-caw” is most familiar.
Where are they found?
Common crows live in all parts of Maryland and use mixed habitats including woodlands for roosting, perching and resting, open areas, agricultural fields, coastal wetlands, marshes, rivers and streams. Crows nest once per year and build their nests high in pines and hardwoods. There are normally three eggs which are laid in late April and May.
What do they eat?
They are omnivorous which means they like to eat all kinds
of things: seeds, fruits, nuts, insects, mollusks, earthworms, eggs, nestlings,
frogs, mice, garbage and dead things. Farmers don’t like them when they eat
corn and melons but like them when they eat insects that are damaging their
corn and melons.
What other kinds of
crows live in Maryland?
A smaller crow, the fish crow, lives near rivers and the
Chesapeake Bay. They make a higher-pitched sound. A close but much bigger
family relative, the common raven, lives in western Maryland.
I didn't know that!
Crows will migrate short distances (up to a few hundred
miles) from their nesting territories especially when the winters get harsh and
the food scarce. In the wild, crows live 6 to 7 years.
Drawing by W.H. Henry