Quick answers
| Question | Answer | Scope | Source | Checked |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| What a group is called | A murder. They mostly travel in small groups, sometimes in large flocks, and are very social in winter. | American crow, Chattahoochee River and Presidio of San Francisco pages | NPS, Chattahoochee River National Recreation Area; NPS, Presidio of San Francisco | |
| What they eat | A varied diet: insects, nuts, seeds, corn, fruit, bird eggs and nestlings, carrion, and garbage. | American crow, Chattahoochee River and Presidio of San Francisco pages | NPS, Chattahoochee River National Recreation Area; NPS, Presidio of San Francisco | |
| Where they live | Any open habitat, from beaches and farmland to suburbs and open woods. | American crow, Chattahoochee River page | NPS, Chattahoochee River National Recreation Area | |
| Nests | Twig-and-stick nests lined with bark, grass and moss, placed in trees. At the Presidio, nesting runs from March to July. | American crow, Chattahoochee River page; nesting season from the Presidio of San Francisco page | NPS, Chattahoochee River National Recreation Area; NPS, Presidio of San Francisco | |
| How big they get | About 17.5 inches long with a 39-inch wingspan. Large, but smaller than the raven. | American crow, Cabrillo National Monument and Presidio of San Francisco pages | NPS, Cabrillo National Monument; NPS, Presidio of San Francisco | |
| Call | A loud, throaty caw-caw-caw. | American crow, Cabrillo National Monument page | NPS, Cabrillo National Monument |
In the sources’ own words
What a group is called
National Park Service, Chattahoochee River National Recreation Area, American Crow“They travel mostly in small groups, but sometimes in large flocks.”
“…(And a group of crows is known as a "murder"!)”
National Park Service, Presidio of San Francisco, American Crow“This species is very gregarious in winter.”
Scope: American crow, Chattahoochee River and Presidio of San Francisco pages
What they eat
National Park Service, Chattahoochee River National Recreation Area, American Crow“Their diet is varied- they are opportunists and eat insects, nuts, seeds, corn, fruit, bird eggs and nestlings and carrion.”
National Park Service, Presidio of San Francisco, American Crow“The American Crow eats nuts, fruits, insects, bird eggs, nestlings, carrion, garbage - after which it ejects pellets.”
Scope: American crow, Chattahoochee River and Presidio of San Francisco pages
Where they live
National Park Service, Chattahoochee River National Recreation Area, American Crow“They can be found in all open habitats: from beaches and farmlands to suburbs and open woods.”
Scope: American crow, Chattahoochee River page
Nests
National Park Service, Chattahoochee River National Recreation Area, American Crow“Crows construct their nests of twigs and sticks and line them with bark, grass, and moss and place them in trees.”
National Park Service, Presidio of San Francisco, American Crow“Nesting season is from March to July.”
Scope: American crow, Chattahoochee River page; nesting season from the Presidio of San Francisco page
How big they get
National Park Service, Cabrillo National Monument, American Crow“Length 17.5” Wingspan 39”…”
National Park Service, Presidio of San Francisco, American Crow“This crow is completely black and large in size, but not as large as the similar Raven.”
Scope: American crow, Cabrillo National Monument and Presidio of San Francisco pages
Call
National Park Service, Cabrillo National Monument, American Crow“American Crows sing a series of loud, throaty caw-caw-caws that is unmistakable once heard.”
Scope: American crow, Cabrillo National Monument page
What these sources do not say
- How long crows live. None of these park pages gives a lifespan.
- How many eggs a crow lays.