American Crow

The American Crow is a large, all-black passerine with a heavy bill and a fan-shaped tail. It has a wingspan of about 33-39 inches. Known for their intelligence and 'caw-caw' vocalizations, they are highly social birds that often form massive winter roosts and work together to mob predators like hawks and owls.

Uniformly iridescent black. Depending on light angle, it may show violet or blue-green sheen. The underside is a slightly flatter, matte grey-black. No banding or spots are present, which is typical for adult crows.

Pennaceous; the barbs are tightly interlocked with hooklets (barbicels) providing a stiff, wind-resistant surface for flight. There is a small amount of plumulaceous (downy) structure at the very base near the calamus.

Smooth and glossy on the upper surface with a slight oily sheen. The feather is stiff and resilient, designed to withstand the high pressures of flapping flight.

Solid black coloration with iridescent sheen, asymmetrical primary shape, lack of light-colored down at the base, and a relatively long, stiff black rachis.

Extremely versatile; found in open woodlands, agricultural fields, city parks, suburbs, landfills, and shorelines. They avoid only the densest unbroken forests and driest deserts.

Common year-round resident across most of North America, from southern Canada to northern Mexico. Northernmost populations may migrate slightly southward in winter.

Omnivorous scavengers and predators; they play a vital role in cleaning up carrion, controlling insect populations, and dispersing seeds, though they are also known for raiding the nests of other birds.

The Common Raven has a much larger, thicker feather (10-14 inches) with a more wedge-shaped tail. The Fish Crow feather is almost identical but slightly smaller and usually indistinguishable without the bird's voice.

Crows are among the most intelligent animals on Earth, capable of using tools, recognizing individual human faces for years, and communicating specific threats to their flock members.

Fair to Good. There is some visible separation of the barbs near the tip, likely due to mechanical wear or handling. The color remains deep black, suggesting it was molted recently or kept out of direct sunlight.