The collective noun for crows is a “murder”. Scientists use the word “horde” A flock of crows may indulge in a murderous rampage and mob a great horned owl when alarmed.
Crows were originally found in Asia but soon spread to North America, Africa, Europe and Australia. There were more species than what we see today. Hundreds of species became extinct after human colonization. Yet, the crow is so populous that it may cause nuisance. In US it is legal to hunt crows.
The “caw-caw” of crows is the most familiar vocalization. Scientists are still intrigued with the ways the crows communicate. When a crow comes upon an owl, it cries out with many repeated “caw” calls that will bring other crows to the spot. Soon there will be a big chorus of “caws”. The noise coupled with the mob will scare away the owl.
A Canadian Scientist created an IQ scale of birds based upon their innovations. Crows were found to be the most intelligent. Crows watch human activities and spend time in learning. The New Caledonian Crow can make tools with whatever materials that are available in its day-to-day search for food. The wild hooded crow of Israel uses bread- crumbs for bait fishing. Crows exhibit several exploratory ways suggesting intelligent behavior.
During springtime in Norway and Sweden fishermen drop lines of bait through holes in ice. The hooded crow grips the line in its beak, walks slowly backward as far as it can and then walks towards the hole on top of the line. This is to prevent the line from slipping back into the hole. The crow repeats the process until the line comes out of the hole with a catch of fish.
Crows perform “anting”. This is treating their feathers with ants. Crows spread their wings, ruffle their feathers and sit on the anthills allowing ants to crawl on to their feathers. The ants destroy parasites. After about an hour the crow drops the ants on the ground and moves away. “Anting” is a widespread practice among birds.
The American Crow lays 4 to 5 eggs in a nest made of twigs, plastic, steel wires and feathers. The eggs are light green with brown markings. The female sits on the eggs and incubates. During this process that lasts more than a fortnight, the male parent feeds the female partner. After the eggs hatch, both the parent birds take turns to feed their helpless young which can only manage to stretch their necks with gaping mouths begging for food. After 35 days the young ones leave the nest.
Crows are omnivorous and eat everything including soap cakes. No other bird has featured so frequently as the common crow in world mythology obviously because of its intimacy with man.
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