American Crow

General Information 

American crows are abundant in Ohio and throughout most of the United States. They can live in almost any type of habitat that has a sufficient number of trees for roosting and open land for foraging. With the clearing of many of Ohio’s woodlands, crow populations have increased slightly in Ohio over the last 45 years. However, crows have been among the bird species most highly affected by the West Nile virus. Researchers are still not sure why crows are so susceptible to this virus.  
   
American crows are very social animals and will live together in family groups for many years. They are monogamous and often don’t breed until they are at least 4 years old. Young crows will stay with their parents for years after they are born, helping to raise their siblings each year. American crows are year-long residents in Ohio, with some migrating slightly south for the winter.

Meet Our Crow

One crow, Roxy, lives in the Ralph Perkins II Wildlife Center & Woods Garden—Presented by KeyBank at the Cleveland Museum of Natural History.

Roxy 

Roxy the American crow was brought to the Medina Raptor Center after landing on someone’s shoulder in Parma, Ohio. She had jesses (leather straps traditionally used in falconry) around her ankles, so it was assumed she had escaped or been released from some captive situation. Since Roxy had most likely been in captivity, she was very dependent on humans for survival. In addition, her inside left digit was broken and healed poorly. Deemed unreleasable, she came to live at the Cleveland Museum of Natural History in December 2007.  

Lifespan  

Wild: 7–8 years  
Captivity: Up to 30 years

Fun Facts  

• The diet of an American crow is generally made up of small mammals, birds, reptiles, insects, and carrion, along with seeds, nuts, and fruit. 
• American crows often consume the berries of poison ivy; they use these berries to crush food they have stored in their crops. 
• The American crow and the common raven are often mistaken for each other. Their ranges overlap in certain regions, but the American crow is found throughout most of the United States and Canada, whereas the common raven is found mostly in the western United States and in the very northeastern portion of North America and up into Canada. The American crow is about two-thirds the size of the common raven, and its call is a much higher-pitched “caw” compared to the raven's lower-pitched “croaking” call. 
• Flocks of crows, called “murders,” will often mob hawks, owls, and other birds of prey. Mobbing a bird of prey alerts other animals to its presence and often causes a predator to move out of an area.