Just felt like writing about crows today. They are one of those hate or love kind of creatures and I love crows. Crows are not perfect, they can be selfish and predatory to other animals, but we are focusing on why they are some of the coolest birds in the sky, or in the high wire… And yes, crows know who you are.
By the way, even crows and ravens are both Corvus, they’re quite different! They have different beaks and sizes, in fact crows are no bigger than pigeons, they are more urban and social than ravens too.
- Crows recognize faces, they won’t forget you, be nice! And what is a a little stalkish in a nice way, they talk to fellow friends and offspring about you if you are nice or mean to them…
- They can count to six!
- Crows can use tools with no previous training.
- Crows help injured crowns and mourn their dead. Even sometimes, like most wild birds they can get rid of the injured ones to protect the rest of the group from predators.
- They are scared of owls. Owls eat crows, so crows will harass them to make them leave their area if they see any around. That’s another reason for crows to love urban areas, the artificial light helps them spot owls at night!
- In Hinduism crows are thought to give omens to people regarding their lives. For the Irish, crows are associated with Morrigan, the goddess of war and death. And in Welsh mythology, the god Brân the Blessed is associated with corvids and death.
- Some crows with pigmentation issues might have white spots. Some are even completely white (albino)!
- A group of crows is called a murder! That’s where the expression ‘a murder of crows’ comes from. Look there’s a murder on that roof!
- If you aren’t already convinced it’s a true fact that crows are very intelligent. Some researchers say they are as clever as a seven-year old!
- They like to spend time playing.
- Crows have regional dialects!
- Ever heard the saying “eating crow”? It means admitting wrongness. Something like “eat your words”.
- The oldest crow documented died at 59! Even most die days after being born or after just a few years.
- Crows master analogical reasoning.
- They are very open about their feelings and are prone to display happiness and sadness.
- Gabi Mann, enough said.
PS. If crows are in your garden and bothering you or your pets, don’t attack them! Just buy some fake/plastic owls to make them leave. You can also pretend to chase them, so they have to be alert whenever they are there. Eventually they will look for a more friendly place. And don’t forget they will tell about you to their fellow crows… Don’t be mean, you don’t want to be hated by generations of crows, talking about you in their legends, year after year.
