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The American crow is a common and widely recognized species that breeds throughout most of the contiguous United States. Clearing of Ohio's vast forests allowed this native species to increase in number. As a result, crows are more abundant today than in pre-settlement times. Although not a forest species, crows thrive in areas with ample trees for roosting and nesting, and abundant fields for feeding. Crows continue to thrive in Ohio, in spite of intensive land use, modern farming practices, and their nuisance status to many people.
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American Crow
Corvus brachyrhynchos
At-a-Glance
• Mating: Monogamous; birds form a pair and work together to rear the young.
• Peak Breeding Activity: Mid-April; crows nest from mid-March to mid-June.
• Incubation: 18 days
• Clutch Size: 3-7 eggs; 5 is average
• Young Fledge: 30 days after hatching
• Number of Broods per Year: 1; if the first nest is disrupted they may renest
• Typical Foods: Waste grain (mostly corn), insects, carrion, bird eggs, young birds, small mammals, and the fruits of mulberry, blackberry, and poison ivy. |
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Description
The American crow is an all-black relative of the blue jay, magpie, and raven. Chunky and heavy-billed, it is nearly as large as the familiar red-tailed hawk, but can easily be distinguished from a hawk at a distance by its frequent, steady wingbeats.
Habitat and Habits
Crows thrive in habitats with open fields (where they feed) and trees (where they nest and roost). Crows are found in all 88 Ohio counties, but are most numerous in the more heavily forested farmland of southeastern Ohio. They begin to flock in late summer, roosting together at night and dispersing over a large area to feed during the day. As cold weather approaches, the birds may begin to move southward. The loud raucous caw-caw of a crow is unmistakable.
Reproduction and Care of the Young
Crows mate the second spring after they have hatched. They will nest in a wide variety of trees. The nest is built about 30 feet above the ground, and typically close to the trunk of the tree. The female is almost entirely responsible for incubating the eggs. The male spends most of the day nearby, occasionally bringing food to his mate. Both adults will care for the young; they regurgitate food to the begging nestlings. |
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