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Meet the Author and Discussion Questions

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Meet the Author and Discussion Questions

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(Image: © Edwin Butter | Shutterstock)

Crows are black birds known for their intelligence and adaptability, and for their loud, harsh "caw." They also have a reputation for damaging crops; however, their impact may be less than previously thought.

The genus Corvus comprises crows, ravens and rooks. These birds are all part of the Corvidae family, which includes jays, magpies and nutcrackers.

Size

There are about 40 species of crow, according to PBS, so there are many different sizes of crows. The American crow measures around 17.5 inches (45 centimeters). The fish crow measures around 19 inches (48 cm). The common raven is much larger and measures around 27 inches (69 cm). Crows can weigh anywhere from 12 to 57 ounces (337 to 1,625 grams). Rooks are smaller than crows and have distinct wedge-shaped tails and light-colored bills. They average 18 inches (47 cm) long.

American crows differ from common ravens in several ways. Ravens are bigger; their voices are hoarser; and they have heavier bills, according to the University of Michigan's Animal Diversity Web (ADW). Ravens' tails and wings come to a point.

Habitat

Crows can be found all over the world in a variety of habitats. For example, the American crow lives all over North America and prefers open areas - agricultural land and grasslands - with trees nearby. They also thrive in suburban neighborhoods, according to the ADW.

The common raven is one of the most widespread birds worldwide, according to the ADW. They are found in northern Europe, Scandinavia, Iceland and Greenland; throughout Asia, from the Pacific Ocean to the Himalayas to India and Iran; across northwestern Africa and the Canary Islands; and in North and Central America as far south as Nicaragua. They prefer open landscapes, too - seacoasts, treeless tundra, rocky cliffs, mountain forests, open riverbanks, plains, deserts and scrubby woodlands.

Rooks are found across Europe and western Asia. They, too, prefer wide open spaces, river plains and steppes.

(Image credit: LanaBrest Shutterstock)

Habits

Crows are extremely intelligent birds. They are known for their problem-solving skills and amazing communication skills. For example, when a crow encounters a mean human, it will teach other crows how to identify the human. In fact, research shows that crows don't forget a face.

Many types of crows are solitary, but they will often forage in groups. Others stay in large groups. A group of crows is called a murder. When one crow dies, the murder will surround the deceased. This funeral isn't just to mourn the dead, though. The crows gather together to find out what killed their member. Then, the murder of crows will band together and chase predators in a behavior called mobbing. With some crow species, the yearlings and non-mating adults live in a group called a roosting community.

Some crows migrate while other crows don't migrate in the common sense. They will travel to warmer areas of their territory, when needed.

American crows can be harmful to crops, but they also may prevent damage by eating insect pests, according to the ADW. Recent studies have shown that 60 to 90 percent of insects eaten by rooks are agricultural pests.

As foragers, they also clean up dead animals and garbage. In fact, crows are often blamed for overturning garbage cans; however, the real culprits are usually raccoons or dogs, according to the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife.

Diet

Crows are omnivores, which means they eat nearly anything. Crows eat small animals such as mammals, amphibians, reptiles, eggs and carrion. They also eat insects, seeds, grains, nuts, fruit, non-insect arthropods, mollusks, worms and even other birds. Crows have also been noted eating garbage and store food in caches, short-term, in trees or on the ground, according to the ADW.

Offspring

Crows are cooperative breeders, which means they often stay close to the place where they were born and help raise and defend the area's young chicks. When it is time to have offspring, a mating pair will build a nest 15 to 60 feet (4.5 to 18 meters) above the ground using branches, twigs, hair, twine, bark, plant fibers, mosses, cloth and other materials. Nests are 1.5 to 2 feet (46 to 61 cm) in diameter, according to the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife.

The female lays four to five eggs and incubates them for 18 days. At four weeks, the chicks are able to leave the nest, though their parents still feed them until they are around 60 days old. Crows can live up to 14 years.

Classification/taxonomy

Here is the taxonomy of crows, according to the Integrated Taxonomic Information System (ITIS):

Kingdom: Animalia Subkingdom: Bilateria Infrakingdom: Deuterostomia Phylum: Chordata Subphylum: Vertebrata Infraphylum: Gnathostomata Class: Aves Superclass: Tetrapoda Order: Passeriformes Family: Corvidae Genus: Corvus Species: There are more than 30, including:

Corvus brachyrhynchos (American crow)

Corvus caurinus (Northwestern crow)

Corvus corax (common raven)

Corvus corone (carrion crow)

Corvus coronoides (Australian raven)

Corvus cryptoleucus (Chihuahuan raven)

Corvus florensis (Flores crow)

Corvus frugilegus (rook)

Corvus hawaiiensis ('Alala, Hawaiian crow)

Corvus imparatus (Mexican crow)

Corvus mellori (little raven)

Corvus ossifragus (fish crow)

Conservation status

According to the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), most crows are not endangered. The Flores crow is one of the exceptions. It is listed as endangered because it has a very small population that is on the decline as deforestation threatens its home on the Indonesian islands of Flores and Rinca. The IUCN thinks that its population is around 600 to 1,700 mature individuals. The Hawaiian crow is extinct in the wild.

(Image credit: Vladimir Wrangel Shutterstock )

Other facts

American crows will stand on anthills and let the ants climb on it. Then, the bird will rub the ants into their feathers. This behavior is called anting and is used to ward of parasites. Ants can also cause birds to get drunk from the formic acid released from the ant's bodies.

Common ravens have 15 to 33 categories of recorded vocalizations.

The Northwestern crow has been observed playing games while flying.

Crows and ravens are important in mythology, fables and native cultures. They are often identified as clever tricksters. In some cultures, they are symbols of good luck; in others, they bring bad luck.

Additional resources

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Alina Bradford - Live Science Contributor

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(Image: © Edwin Butter | Shutterstock) Crows are black birds known for their intelligence and adaptability, and for their loud, harsh "caw." They also have a reputation for damaging crops; however, their impact may be less than previously thought. The genus Corvus comprises crows, ravens and rooks.

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The red oak (Quercus rubra) is a tall tree, reaching heights of more than 70 feet, with brilliant fall foliage. It grows in U.S. Department of Agriculture hardiness zones 5 through 8. The leaves have a pointed look that easily distinguishes them from the rounded leaves of other oak species.

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A sprouting acorn will develop full-sized leaves.

Oaks are among the most highly prized of trees. Vikings sought out oak planks for the decks of their ships. Ancient Celts worshipped the oak as a symbol of durability, constancy, and purity. Barrel makers use oak wood for barrels in which to age fine wines and bourbons. Because the oak is dense, its wood is valued for furniture making while the tree itself is prized as a garden specimen.

Botanists group oaks into two categories for ease of identification: red oaks and white oaks. White oaks tend to have leaves with rounded lobes and sweet-tasting acorns that ripen in about 6 months. Red oaks have finely divided leaves with pointed lobes and tiny bristles at the ends. Their acorns often require two years to ripen and overwinter on the leafless, parent tree. Red oaks can hybridize among the many species in this group, but not with white oaks. Red oak acorns are bitter, but a diet staple to a wide range of wildlife such as squirrels, mice, bear, and deer.

Longevity of Red Oaks

Longevity among red oaks varies widely by species, some living a mere 80 years and others living as long as 500 to 600 years. The Northern red oak (Quercus rubra) usually lives about 200 years but can be as old as 400 years and is hardy in U. S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones 3 through 9. California Black Oak (Quercus kelloggii) may grow to reach a maximum age of about 500 years and is hardy in USDA zones 7 though 10. But hands down, the oldest known living red oak in the United States, possibly the world, is The Pechanga Great Oak Tree, a coast live oak (Quercus agrifolia) estimated to be between 850 and more than 1,500 years old. While most coast live oaks do not reach this age, they are hardy in USDA zones 8 through 10.

A Little TLC

Life expectancy among oaks varies with species but is also governed by growing conditions, disease resistance and exposure, and predation by insects. Though they enjoy the reputation of being indestructible, oaks have a few Achilles' heels. Excavation, paving, or changing the grade level of the soil between the trunk and the drip line (the outermost point of the canopy where water drips off the leaves) risk killing the tender feeder roots. Irrigate established trees only over the outer third of the root system, never over roots nearest the trunk, and apply water until 8 to 12 inches of the soil is damp. Use plants under oaks that do not require additional watering. Prune evergreen oaks only in the dry season.

Sudden Oak Death

As with any plant, there are some diseases that devastate oaks. The most prominent in recent years has been Sudden Oak Death (Phytophthora ramorum) or SOD for short. Making its first appearance in 1995, this previously unknown disease killed thousands of oaks in the West. Today, its host list is long and includes hundreds of plant species. Spores of the disease are spread during cool, rainy weather. Symptoms begin with reddish or brownish sap oozing from the trunk, followed by leaf wilt. The oozing sap also attracts several bark-boring beetles. If known infestations of SOD are in the area, avoid planting susceptible varieties. Cut down afflicted trees after the leaves wilt (the tree is unrecoverable at this point). Do not transport infected wood. Seek out the advice of an arborist for trees showing early symptoms, as yearly treatments are available.

About the Author

Kathy Imbriani's love of gardening grew from a childhood spent on the family farm. She is the co-author of two gardening books and numerous articles on science and gardening subjects. Imbriani holds a Bachelor of Science in horticulture from North Carolina State University.

Photo Credits

Comstock/Comstock/Getty Images

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Oaks are among the most highly prized of trees. Vikings sought out oak planks for the decks of their ships. Ancient Celts worshipped the oak as a symbol of durability, constancy, and purity. Barrel makers use oak wood for barrels in which to age fine wines and bourbons.

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Katherine Applegate - Audio Name Pronunciation

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Katherine Applegate - Audio Name Pronunciation

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TeachingBooks.net Audio Name Pronunciation | Katherine Applegate

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Learn all about crows with Kids InfoBits!

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Learn all about squirrels with Kids InfoBits!

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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-svZWOVl1Dg