Species · GBIF taxon 2482523
Northwestern Crow
Corvus caurinusAlso known as Pacific Crow, Coast Crow
Northwestern crows are highly intelligent coastal songbirds that patrol the beaches, intertidal zones, and forests of the Pacific Northwest. They are slightly smaller than American crows, with a faster, more nasal call and a tendency to forage in tight-knit family groups along the shoreline. These adaptable birds frequently drop hard-shelled mollusks onto rocks from high above to crack them open.
IntelligentCoastalSocial
- diet
- Omnivorous
- family
- Corvidae
- threats
- West Nile virus, habitat loss, and human persecution
- life Span
- 12 to 17 years
LC
May dive-bomb to defend nests during spring; keep a respectful distance from active nests.
- Beach foraging: Watch for them dropping clams or crabs onto hard rocks from the air to break the shells.
- Vocalizations: Distinguish them from American crows by their slightly lower, more nasal, and hoarser call.
- Nesting safety: Give them space in late spring when parents aggressively defend fledglings on the ground.