Crows have numerous types of vocalizations and regional dialects. In fact some crow species can only reliably be told apart by their calls. Some pet crows have even been trained to speak.

Unfortunately humans usually only hear a crow's harsh warning call, as we are rightly perceived as a threat.

Many species of birds and many insects and flowers posses colors in the UV spectrum that we cannot see. While all crows may look alike to you, they can tell each other apart visually at great distances.

Whether foraging for bugs, robbing eggs from other birds or working on a roadkill, crows will take what they can get. This also allows them to take advantage of humans. From dumpsters to corn cribs, we offer crows many easy food sources. Some crows have even been found placing hard nuts under tires while cars are stopped at a red light, in order to crack the nuts.

While not quite as intelligent as their cousins the ravens, crows are great problem solvers and communicators. If a human threatens a crow they remember and share the information. In fact crows who have never met the threat will recognize it because of this sharing. Crows have also been observed using rudimentary tools. This is a learned behavior only found in some groups.

These "murders" of crows can sometimes number in the hundreds or thousands. They often a
roost together in large groups that can sometimes damage trees. Large flocks are usually made of unmated juvenile crows, upon finding a mate, crows would leave the flock and pick up a territory to raise young in.

Many crows move out to join a large juvenile flock, but some stick around for a year or two to help their parents raise their younger siblings. Family groups have also be recorded taking a vacation by leaving their next (and territory) for weeks at a time to visit relatives.

Due to their intelligence and omnivorous diets crows benefit greatly from humans. Most humans however fail to see any value in crows, Labeling them as a nuisance at best or harbingers of death at worst. Crows are often hunted for sport, and they even can be hunted year-round in Pennsylvania. Despite this crows are still very successful.

Since they are so common we overlook their incredible abilities and fail to recognize this crafty survivor.