American Crow

A large, all-black passerine with a heavy bill. Adult American Crows are entirely black with an iridescent sheen. They have a wingspan of about 33-39 inches and are known for their social nature and characteristic 'caw' vocalizations.

Uniformly iridescent black/dark charcoal above, appearing slightly more matte or brownish-black below. No banding or spots present. Significant structural sheen is visible.

Tightly interlocked pennaceous barbs on the majority of the vane; plumulaceous (fluffy) barbs at the very base (calamus area).

Smooth and relatively stiff leading edge; glossy surface with a subtle violet or blue structural iridescence when viewed in direct sunlight.

Strong asymmetry, uniform dark coloration with subtle iridescence, and a relatively thick, light-colored calamus/base of the rachis.

Highly adaptable; found in open woodlands, agricultural fields, orchards, beach coastlines, suburban yards, and urban parks.

Widespread year-round resident across most of North America, from southern Canada throughout the United States to northern Mexico.

Omnivorous scavenger and predator; plays a vital role in cleaning up carrion and controlling insect populations. They are also highly social sentinel birds.

Common Raven (larger, more wedge-shaped tail, heavier rachis) and Fish Crow (virtually indistinguishable by single feather; requires vocalization or size context).

American Crows are among the most intelligent animals, capable of tool use, recognizing individual human faces, and complex problem-solving.

Good condition; slight mechanical wear (fraying) at the distal tip and trailing edge suggests this was a naturally molted feather.