Encyclopediacrow
crow, partially migratory black bird of the same family as the raven, the magpie, the jay, and the rook and the jackdaw of Europe. The American, or common, crow, about 19 in. (49 cm) long, has a wingspread of over 3 ft (92 cm). Crows eat some eggs and nestlings and grain, but destroy many harmful insects and rodents. In winter they gather at night by thousands in communal roosts. Crows, along with the other members of the family Corvidae, are considered to be the most intelligent of all birds. They are easily tamed and can learn to mimic some human sounds. Their throaty “caw” is familiar, although they can also produce a musical warble. The fish crow of the Atlantic and Gulf coasts is smaller than the common crow. The carrion crow of Great Britain is a flesh-eating bird 18 to 20 in. (46–51 cm) long. Crows are classified in the phylum Chordata, subphylum Vertebrata, class Aves, order Passeriformes, family Corvidae.
The Columbia Electronic Encyclopedia, 6th ed. Copyright © 2007, Columbia University Press. All rights reserved.
