Crows are incredibly smart birds, and with a little patience, you can befriend them! The American crow population is estimated to be around 27 million and continues to grow.
If you’ve ever wondered how to get closer to one, here are a few easy steps to help you make friends with a crow.
1. Offer Food Consistently
To make friends with a crow, start by offering food regularly. Crows are highly intelligent and will quickly learn to associate food with you.
They’re known for their ability to recognize faces, so when you provide food in the same spot at consistent times, they’ll start to trust you. You can offer peanuts in the shell, sunflower seeds, or even small pieces of fruit.
Make sure you leave the food in a quiet, safe place where the crow can easily find it. Over time, as they see you as a source of food, they’ll become more comfortable with your presence. Just remember to keep the food offerings consistent—if you stop, they may lose interest.
2. Be Patient & Quiet around Them
These birds are pretty cautious animals, so patience is key. At first, they may watch you from a distance, unsure of your intentions. Stay calm and avoid making sudden movements.
Talk softly to yourself or stay silent, as loud noises or fast gestures can frighten them off. It’s important to let them come to you at their own pace.
If you’re patient, you’ll notice the crows becoming more relaxed in your presence over time. This quiet approach builds trust, and soon, they’ll feel comfortable approaching you and the food you’ve provided.
3. Make Eye Contact without Startling Them
When you try to make eye contact with them, do so slowly and gently, without staring too intensely. Crows are very aware of their surroundings, and they’ll pay attention to your body language, including eye contact.
Direct eye contact can be seen as a sign of aggression, so keep it relaxed. Look at them, then look away, and try to gauge their comfort level. If they don’t seem to mind, you can slowly increase the duration of eye contact.
This shows the crow that you are non-threatening and respectful, which helps in building a bond.
4. Create a Routine for Your Interactions
By creating a routine, you establish predictability, which helps build trust. If you feed them at the same time each day, in the same spot, and with the same type of food, they’ll learn to expect you.
This consistent behavior will make them feel more comfortable approaching you. Over time, you may even notice them showing up at the same time you usually feed them, a sign that they recognize and trust you.
Consistency in your interactions is one of the most important steps to forming a lasting bond.
5. Use Objects to Catch Their Attention
Crows, contrary to popular belief, don’t actually like shiny objects the way people think they do. According to Dr. Kevin J. McGowan from the Cornell Lab of Ornithology, crows do not collect shiny items or hide them for later use.
These birds are actually very curious and enjoy playing with different objects. They might pick up, peck at, and even hide items—especially those that are small and easy to handle. (ref)
So, if you want to catch a crow’s attention, try offering small, portable objects. While they may not be attracted to shiny things, their curiosity will likely draw them in if the items are easy to handle.
6. Provide a Safe & Quiet Space for Them to Visit
Choose an area that’s not too busy or loud, where the crow can eat without fear of predators or distractions.
You might want to avoid places with heavy foot traffic or other animals. Let them visit your garden with bird feeders,
A calm environment helps crows feel more at ease with you, and over time, they’ll begin to associate that space with safety and comfort. This also allows them to approach on their own terms.
That said, crows are smart and social, so building a bond with one can be a great experience. Enjoy the process and watch as your new crow friend gets more comfortable with you!
Source:
Read Next:
Davin is a jack-of-all-trades but has professional training and experience in various home and garden subjects. He leans on other experts when needed and edits and fact-checks all articles.