American Crow

A jet-black feather from an intelligent, social bird known for its 'caw' vocalization. The American Crow is a large all-black passerine with a heavy bill and rounded tail in flight.

Solid iridescent black to deep charcoal; exhibits a subtle violet or greenish sheen under direct light (structural coloration typical of corvids); matte gray underside

Pennaceous at the tip and upper vane for weatherproofing; plumulaceous (downy) at the base for insulation; intact with some separation at the calamus

Smooth and slightly glossy on the pennaceous vane; soft and filamentous at the plumulaceous base; slightly oily for water resistance

Uniform black coloration with iridescent sheen; rounded distal end; prominent downy base; relatively stiff rachis for its size

Highly adaptable: found in open woodlands, agricultural fields, urban parks, suburban yards, and shorelines

Widespread throughout North America, from southern Canada to northern Mexico; mostly resident with some northern populations moving south in winter

Omnivorous scavenger and predator; plays a vital role in cleaning up carrion and controlling insect populations

Common Raven (feather would be larger and coarser), Fish Crow (virtually identical, usually distinguished by vocalization or range), or European Starling (smaller, more iridescent)

American Crows are capable of recognizing individual human faces and passing that information to their offspring; they are also known to use tools

Good condition; slight wear at the tip and base suggests it was naturally molted or discarded during preening