American Crow

A medium-sized, all-black passerine with a heavy bill and a fan-shaped tail in flight. This feather reflects the crow's sleek, monochromatic appearance which masks complex social behaviors.

Uniformly iridescent black/charcoal. Displays a characteristic blue-violet or greenish sheen typical of melanin-based structural colors in corvids.

Pennaceous at the distal end (tightly interlocked) and plumulaceous (downy) at the proximal base near the quill.

Smooth and glossy on the pennaceous portion with a soft, matte, and fluffy downy base. The surface has a subtle oily sheen for water repellency.

Solid dark pigmentation, subtle iridescence, and a high ratio of plumulaceous down at the base compared to the pennaceous tip.

Open woodlands, agricultural fields, city parks, and suburban areas. Highly adaptable to human-altered landscapes.

Widespread across North America, from southern Canada to northern Mexico. Permanent resident in most of its range.

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

Common Raven (larger feathers), Fish Crow (nearly identical, distinguished by voice), or Brewer's Blackbird (smaller and more metallic).

Crows are among the most intelligent animals, capable of using tools, recognizing individual human faces, and mourning their dead in 'funerals'.

Good condition; the distal edges show slight wear/fraying, suggesting it may have been molted naturally or preened out.