Photo: Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 3.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
American Crow
Corvus brachyrhynchos
American Crow (Corvus brachyrhynchos) — Crows, Jays & Magpies of North America.
Found across 12 guides in our atlas — open any for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.
The American Crow (Corvus brachyrhynchos) is a member of the Corvidae family found in North America. Adults weigh 449 g. The IUCN Red List lists it as Least Concern.
Conservation status
IUCN Red List (opens in a new tab)Widespread and abundant — not currently at risk.
Where it fits
- Class Aves
- Order Passeriformes
- Family Corvidae Crows, Jays
- Genus Corvus
- Species brachyrhynchos
Quick facts
- Weight
- 449 g
- Diet
- Omnivores
- Family
- Corvidae
- Order
- Passeriformes
- Habitat
- Urban & human-modified
How to identify
Male vs female
Sexes look alike; males average slightly larger but plumage is identical, and reliable sexing needs DNA.
Juvenile appearance
Juveniles are duller and browner with less gloss and, early on, blue-gray eyes and a pinkish mouth lining.
Similar birds
Least Concern
Least Concern
Least Concern
Least Concern
Biology & behaviour
Diet
The American Crow is a omnivore — it takes a broad, omnivorous diet of both plant and animal foods.
Behaviour
A bird of farmland, parks and gardens, it forages mainly on the ground.
Migration
The American Crow is partially migratory: some populations move with the seasons while others stay resident year-round.
The American Crow (Corvus brachyrhynchos) is a member of the Corvidae family, within the order Passeriformes. Its range spans North America. Its distribution covers NA widespread.
It is a large bird. Adults weighs around 449 g, with a wing length of about 29.4 cm and a tail of around 16.7 cm.
The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern. That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.
The species has a mapped global range of roughly 11.6 million km² — a very large global range.
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the American Crow?
The American Crow is a large bird that weighs around 449 g.
Where does the American Crow live?
The American Crow is found across North America with a range covering NA widespread, where it adapts readily to towns, parks and gardens.
What family does the American Crow belong to?
The American Crow (Corvus brachyrhynchos) belongs to the Corvidae family, in the order Passeriformes.
What does the American Crow eat?
The American Crow is a omnivore — it takes a broad, omnivorous diet of both plant and animal foods.
Does the American Crow migrate?
The American Crow is partially migratory: some populations move with the seasons while others stay resident year-round.
Is the American Crow endangered?
The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.
What sound does the American Crow make?
1 real field recording of the American Crow — including its call — can be played in the Songs & calls section on this page, credited to the recordist who captured it.
How large is the American Crow's range?
The American Crow has a mapped global range of about 11.6 million km².
Conservation
Every bird benefits from bird-safe windows, native plants, and keeping cats indoors. Small changes at home add up to real protection.
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Guides for this bird
Best Feeders for Jays & Larger Garden Birds
How to choose a feeder for jays and other big, bold garden birds — the styles that suit peanuts and larger food, and how to keep them from crowding your small-bird feeders. A decision framework with the species in the Birbs encyclopedia.
American Crow vs Northern Raven: How to Tell Them Apart
How to tell a American Crow from a Northern Raven — size, range, family and status compared side by side, with links to each bird’s full ID guide.