American crow

Scientific name: Corvus brachyrhynchos

How weight is recorded: Whole weight

Field notes

Appearance

Entirely black plumage with a slight iridescent sheen; relatively heavy bill; wings broader and more rounded than ravens. No sexual dimorphism in plumage; males average slightly larger than females.

Size and weight

Males 450–600 g, females 400–500 g; body length 40–50 cm.

Habitat

American crows occupy diverse habitats including open woodlands, agricultural fields, urban and suburban areas, parks, and woodland edges from sea level to moderate elevations. They favour areas with scattered trees for roosting combined with open ground for foraging.

Distribution

Year-round resident across North America from central Canada south to Mexico and Central America. Populations expand northward in winter; favour open to semi-open habitats within forests and agricultural zones.

Diet

Omnivorous: insects, small vertebrates, eggs, carrion, seeds, nuts, and human food waste; seasonal emphasis on insects and invertebrates during breeding months, grains and cached foods in autumn and winter.

Behaviour

Highly social and diurnal; forage on open ground in small flocks or pairs, often returning to communal roosts at dusk. Intelligent and wary; vocal year-round with varied calls; cache food in dispersed locations.

Hunting tips

Look for droppings and pellets beneath favourite perches and roosts; listen for distinctive caw calls to locate concentrations. Approach open foraging areas using cover and remaining downwind; crows have excellent vision so movement must be deliberate and slow. Early morning and late afternoon on open ground yield best observation; use natural terrain features and vegetation for concealment.

Whole weight

This species is logged by whole weight — the animal weighed entire, as taken.

Where it is hunted

Listed as huntable in 2 countries in Huntify.

Names in other languages

These field notes are general species knowledge, not legal advice. Always check the current seasons, quotas and firearm rules where you hunt.