American Crow (also Common Raven)

Large, all-black passerine with a heavy bill and strong legs. Crows are social, highly intelligent birds known for their 'caw' vocalizations and complex social structures. In flight, they show broad wings with 'fingered' wingtips.

Uniformly iridescent black/charcoal; shows a subtle blue-violet or greenish sheen typical of melanin-based structural color in corvids.

Densely packed pennaceous barbs providing a stiff, aerodynamic surface; hooklets (barbicels) are intact on inner vanes but show fraying at the tips.

Smooth, glossy, and relatively stiff; the surface has a waxy feel that provides water resistance and durability.

Solid black coloration with iridescence, asymmetrical wing shape, and a dark, sturdy rachis; lacks the barred patterns of raptors or the white bases of some other black birds.

Highly adaptable: found in woodlands, agricultural fields, suburban parks, urban centers, and coastal regions.

Common throughout North America, from southern Canada to northern Mexico; mostly resident with some northern populations migrating short distances.

Omnivorous scavenger and predator; they play a vital role in cleaning up carrion and controlling insect and small rodent populations.

Common Raven (larger, more gloss), Brewer’s Blackbird (much smaller), or Great-tailed Grackle (more iridescent and narrower feathers).

Crows can recognize human faces and have been known to use tools and pass knowledge through generations. They are amongst the most intelligent vertebrates.

Fair to Good; significant wear and 'notching' or breakage at the distal ends (tips), likely due to mechanical wear or environmental stress prior to molting.