Black crow on a white background

American Crow

Corvus brachyrhynchos

Recognizes individual human faces. Holds opinions about them.

American Crows are highly intelligent birds that often travel in family groups. They enjoy peanuts, corn, and a wide variety of foods.

Favourite foods

American Crows are intelligent omnivores that eat practically anything, but peanuts-in-shell are their feeder favourite. They'll also take cracked corn, oat groats, and large seeds. Crows are famous for their intelligence and memory — feed them consistently and they'll learn your schedule. Some backyard birders develop genuine, long-term relationships with resident crow families.

Best feeder types

Crows need wide open ground or very large platform feeders. Scatter peanuts-in-shell on a lawn, driveway, or large ground tray in an open area with clear sightlines. They're wary of enclosed spaces and won't approach feeders near buildings or dense vegetation. Consistency and patience are key — once a crow family trusts your feeding spot, they'll return daily and even bring their young.

Habitat keeps them coming back

Crows are highly adaptable and thrive in almost any habitat with tall trees for roosting and open ground for foraging. They nest high in mature trees (deciduous or coniferous) and forage on lawns, fields, and open areas. The most important thing you can do is simply be consistent — crows learn faces, schedules, and routines. They value reliable food sources and open water. A large, shallow birdbath on the ground and a consistent feeding spot will build a long-term relationship with your local crow family.

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