SpeciesFacts

All species › Birds › American Crow

American Crow

Corvus brachyrhynchos

Bird · family Corvidae · order Passeriformes

  1. G1
    Critically imperiled
  2. G2
    Imperiled
  3. G3
    Vulnerable
  4. G4
    Apparently secure
  5. G5
    Secure

NatureServe global rank G5: secure[2].

Updated October 30, 2026. Published by Humblebee.

American Crow
Photo: Unknown author, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
Endangered Species Act
Not listed[1]
NatureServe global rank
G5 Secure[2]
Native in
50 states[3]
Oldest known wild bird
18 years[4]

The American Crow is a bird in the family Corvidae[5]. NatureServe ranks it G5, which means Secure worldwide, and it is not listed under the US Endangered Species Act[2][1].

Conservation status

NatureServe gives the American Crow a global rank of G5 (Secure) and a national rank of N5B,N5N, which is Secure for both breeding and nonbreeding birds[2][6]. The IUCN Red List category recorded by NatureServe is Least concern[7]. The bird is not listed as endangered or threatened under the Endangered Species Act in USFWS data[1]. It is on the federal list of migratory birds protected under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act[8].

Status Value
Endangered Species Act[1] Not listed
NatureServe global rank[2] G5 (Secure)
NatureServe US rank[6] N5B,N5N (Secure (breeding), Secure (nonbreeding))
IUCN Red List (via NatureServe)[7] Least concern
Migratory Bird Treaty Act[8] Protected

Where American Crow lives

NatureServe lists the American Crow as native in 50 US states and territories, including the District of Columbia[3]. Most state ranks are Secure, and a few states are marked as not yet ranked[9]. A state list shows where NatureServe records the bird, not a promise that you will see it there[3].

Alaska: native, state rank S3AKMaine: native, state rank S5MEWisconsin: native, state rank S5WIVermont: native, state rank S5B,S5NVTNew Hampshire: native, state rank S5NHWashington: native, state rank S5WAIdaho: native, state rank S5IDMontana: native, state rank S5BMTNorth Dakota: native, state rank SNRB,SNRNNDMinnesota: native, state rank SNRMNIllinois: native, state rank S5ILMichigan: native, state rank S5MINew York: native, state rank S5NYMassachusetts: native, state rank S5MAOregon: native, state rank S5ORNevada: native, state rank S5NVWyoming: native, state rank S5B,S5NWYSouth Dakota: native, state rank S4B,S4NSDIowa: native, state rank S5B,S5NIAIndiana: native, state rank S5BINOhio: native, state rank S5OHPennsylvania: native, state rank S5BPANew Jersey: native, state rank S5B,S5NNJConnecticut: native, state rank S5CTRhode Island: native, state rank S5BRICalifornia: native, state rank SNRCAUtah: native, state rank S3B,S5NUTColorado: native, state rank S5CONebraska: native, state rank S5NEMissouri: native, state rank SNRMOKentucky: native, state rank S5B,S5NKYWest Virginia: native, state rank S5B,S5NWVVirginia: native, state rank S5VAMaryland: native, state rank S5MDDelaware: native, state rank S5DEArizona: native, state rank S5AZNew Mexico: native, state rank S5B,S5NNMKansas: native, state rank S5KSArkansas: native, state rank S5ARTennessee: native, state rank S5TNNorth Carolina: native, state rank S5B,S5NNCSouth Carolina: native, state rank S5SCDistrict of Columbia: native, state rank S5B,S5NDCOklahoma: native, state rank SNROKLouisiana: native, state rank S5LAMississippi: native, state rank S5BMSAlabama: native, state rank S5ALGeorgia: native, state rank S5GAHawaii: not recordedHITexas: native, state rank S5BTXFlorida: native, state rank S4FLPuerto Rico: not recordedPR
State presence as recorded by NatureServe[9].
Show state ranks (50 states)
StateRankMeaning
AlabamaS5Secure
AlaskaS3Vulnerable
ArizonaS5Secure
ArkansasS5Secure
CaliforniaSNRNot Ranked
ColoradoS5Secure
ConnecticutS5Secure
DelawareS5Secure
District of ColumbiaS5B,S5NSecure (breeding), Secure (nonbreeding)
FloridaS4Apparently Secure
GeorgiaS5Secure
IdahoS5Secure
IllinoisS5Secure
IndianaS5BSecure (breeding)
IowaS5B,S5NSecure (breeding), Secure (nonbreeding)
KansasS5Secure
KentuckyS5B,S5NSecure (breeding), Secure (nonbreeding)
LouisianaS5Secure
MaineS5Secure
MarylandS5Secure
MassachusettsS5Secure
MichiganS5Secure
MinnesotaSNRNot Ranked
MississippiS5BSecure (breeding)
MissouriSNRNot Ranked
MontanaS5BSecure (breeding)
NebraskaS5Secure
NevadaS5Secure
New HampshireS5Secure
New JerseyS5B,S5NSecure (breeding), Secure (nonbreeding)
New MexicoS5B,S5NSecure (breeding), Secure (nonbreeding)
New YorkS5Secure
North CarolinaS5B,S5NSecure (breeding), Secure (nonbreeding)
North DakotaSNRB,SNRNNot Ranked (breeding), Not Ranked (nonbreeding)
OhioS5Secure
OklahomaSNRNot Ranked
OregonS5Secure
PennsylvaniaS5BSecure (breeding)
Rhode IslandS5BSecure (breeding)
South CarolinaS5Secure
South DakotaS4B,S4NApparently Secure (breeding), Apparently Secure (nonbreeding)
TennesseeS5Secure
TexasS5BSecure (breeding)
UtahS3B,S5NVulnerable (breeding), Secure (nonbreeding)
VermontS5B,S5NSecure (breeding), Secure (nonbreeding)
VirginiaS5Secure
WashingtonS5Secure
West VirginiaS5B,S5NSecure (breeding), Secure (nonbreeding)
WisconsinS5Secure
WyomingS5B,S5NSecure (breeding), Secure (nonbreeding)

Habitat

NatureServe records many habitats for the American Crow, such as hardwood, conifer and mixed woodland, savanna, grassland, cropland, suburbs, orchards, riparian areas and tidal flats[10]. Open forest and woodland are used for nesting and roosting, and use of towns and suburbs is increasing[11]. For feeding it uses open or partly open country, including farmland, cities and orchards[11]. In dry regions it stays mostly near woodland along waterways[11].

Habitat types recorded by NatureServe[10]

Size, diet and lifespan

The American Crow is an opportunistic eater. It takes small vertebrates, invertebrates, carrion, grain and fruit[12][13]. NatureServe records a typical length of 45 cm (18 in)[14]. The typical adult weight is 458 g[15]. Clutch size is usually 4 to 6, and incubation lasts about 18 days[16][17]. The longest recorded lifespan is 20 years[18]. The oldest known wild bird was at least 18 years 4 months old[4].

Trait Value
Typical length[14] 45 cm (18 in)
Typical adult weight[15] 458 g (16.2 oz)
Longest recorded lifespan (AnAge)[18] 20 years
Oldest known wild bird (banding)[4] 18 years 4 months
Litter or clutch size[19] 5
Gestation or incubation[17] 18 days
Female maturity[20] 730 days (about 2.0 years)
Food habits[13] Carnivore, Invertivore, Granivore, Frugivore
Migration[21] non-migrant, local migrant, long-distance migrant

Estimated diet composition (EltonTraits 1.0)[22]

  • 20% invertebrates
  • 20% fruit
  • 20% carrion
  • 10% warm-blooded vertebrates
  • 10% seeds
  • 10% reptiles and amphibians
  • 10% fish

When to look for it

The American Crow is diurnal, which means it is active during the day[23]. Breeding birds from far northern areas head south for winter[24]. NatureServe notes that migration habits can differ between populations[21]. On GBIF, most records in the United States fall in March, April and May[25]. These records show when people look and report, not how many birds there are[25].

January: 1,872,083 recordsJanFebruary: 2,052,720 recordsFebMarch: 2,279,101 recordsMarApril: 2,613,899 recordsAprMay: 2,862,020 recordsMayJune: 1,675,001 recordsJunJuly: 1,365,771 recordsJulAugust: 1,401,672 recordsAugSeptember: 1,736,555 recordsSepOctober: 1,909,212 recordsOctNovember: 1,630,165 recordsNovDecember: 1,662,109 recordsDec
US observation records on GBIF by month, all years. The three months with the most records are highlighted. Records show when people look and report, not how many animals there are[25].
Show records by month
MonthRecords
January1,872,083
February2,052,720
March2,279,101
April2,613,899
May2,862,020
June1,675,001
July1,365,771
August1,401,672
September1,736,555
October1,909,212
November1,630,165
December1,662,109

Where to see it

National Park Service species lists record American Crow as present in 221 park units[26]. Present means the park has a confirmed record, not that sightings are common.

And 197 more park units.

States with the most GBIF observation records: California, New York, Pennsylvania, Washington, Virginia[27]. These counts follow where people look and report, not population size.

Questions people ask

Is the American Crow endangered?
No. It is not listed as endangered or threatened under the Endangered Species Act[1]. NatureServe ranks it G5, which is Secure[2].
Where does the American Crow live?
NatureServe lists it as native in 50 US states and territories[3]. It uses woodland, farmland, suburbs and tidal flats[10].
What does the American Crow eat?
It is opportunistic and eats small animals, invertebrates, carrion, grain and fruit[12][13].
How big is an American Crow?
NatureServe records a typical length of 45 cm (18 in)[14]. The typical adult weight is 458 g[15].
How long does an American Crow live?
The longest recorded lifespan is 20 years[18]. The oldest known wild bird was at least 18 years 4 months old[4].

Facts and sources

  1. American Crow is not listed as endangered or threatened under the US Endangered Species Act in USFWS ECOS data (checked 2026-10-30). USFWS ECOS
  2. NatureServe global conservation status rank for American Crow: G5 (Secure). NatureServe Explorer
  3. NatureServe lists American Crow as native in 50 US states and territories: Alaska, Alabama, Arkansas, Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, the District of Columbia, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Iowa, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky,... NatureServe Explorer
  4. Oldest known wild American Crow from US and Canadian bird banding records: at least 18 years 4 months old (USGS Bird Banding Laboratory). USGS Bird Banding Lab
  5. American Crow (Corvus brachyrhynchos) is a bird in the family Corvidae, order Passeriformes. NatureServe Explorer
  6. NatureServe national rank in the United States: N5B,N5N (Secure (breeding), Secure (nonbreeding)). NatureServe Explorer
  7. IUCN Red List category as recorded by NatureServe: Least concern. NatureServe Explorer
  8. American Crow is on the federal list of migratory birds protected under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act (50 CFR 10.13). eCFR, 50 CFR 10.13
  9. NatureServe state ranks for American Crow (map and table on this page). NatureServe Explorer
  10. Habitat types NatureServe records for American Crow: Woodland - hardwood, Woodland - conifer, Woodland - mixed, Savanna, Grassland/herbaceous, Cropland/hedgerow, Suburban/orchard, Riparian, Tidal flat/shore. NatureServe Explorer
  11. NatureServe notes on habitat for American Crow. NatureServe Explorer
  12. NatureServe notes on food for American Crow. NatureServe Explorer
  13. Adult food habits recorded by NatureServe: Carnivore, Invertivore, Granivore, Frugivore. NatureServe Explorer
  14. Typical length recorded by NatureServe: 45 cm (18 in). NatureServe Explorer
  15. Typical adult weight recorded by NatureServe: 458 g (16.2 oz). NatureServe Explorer
  16. NatureServe notes on reproduction for American Crow. NatureServe Explorer
  17. Gestation or incubation period in AnAge: 18 days. AnAge
  18. Maximum recorded lifespan in AnAge: 20 years. This is a record, not a typical lifespan. AnAge
  19. Typical litter or clutch size in AnAge: 5. AnAge
  20. Age at female sexual maturity in AnAge: 730 days (about 2.0 years). AnAge
  21. NatureServe migration category for American Crow: non-migrant, local migrant, long-distance migrant (populations can differ). NatureServe Explorer
  22. Estimated diet composition in EltonTraits 1.0: 20% invertebrates, 20% fruit, 20% carrion, 10% warm-blooded vertebrates, 10% seeds, 10% reptiles and amphibians, 10% fish. EltonTraits 1.0
  23. Adult activity patterns recorded by NatureServe: Diurnal. NatureServe Explorer
  24. NatureServe notes on migration for American Crow. NatureServe Explorer
  25. GBIF observation records of American Crow in the US by month (chart on this page). GBIF
  26. NPSpecies park lists recording American Crow as present (list on this page). NPS NPSpecies
  27. US states with the most GBIF observation records of American Crow: California, New York, Pennsylvania, Washington, Virginia. Record counts follow observer effort, not population size. GBIF

Status, range and habitat come from NatureServe Explorer (CC BY 4.0) and USFWS ECOS at the snapshot date. Listings change by federal rule. State lists are where NatureServe records the species, not a promise that you will see it there. Never name a place smaller than a state. GBIF and park records count observations and checklists. They show where and when people report the species, not how many animals live there.

NatureServe. 2026. NatureServe Explorer [web application]. NatureServe, Arlington, Virginia. Available https://explorer.natureserve.org. (Accessed: October 30, 2026). Licensed under CC BY 4.0; SpeciesFacts selected and summarized it.

Photo: Unknown author, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons.