Crows are renowned for their versatile diets and abilities to seemingly eat anything. Indeed, there are few foods that crows will not eat, but how far will crows go to get a bite to eat? Do crows eat other birds – would they dare to go this far?
Well, I intend to answer that question and many more questions related to crow diets within this article. Those interested in knowing more about whether or not crows eat meat with feathers have come to the right place. Let’s discuss potential crow cannibalism!
Table of Contents
What Do Crows Eat?
When most people consider a bird that eats other birds, they imagine a hawk or other raptor. Before we consider the question, “Do crows eat other birds?” we must first determine if crows are interested in eating meat.
Of course, crows, ravens, and other birds in the Corvid family are opportunistic feeders, but this is a very vague term. So, what do crows eat – do crows eat meat?
Yes, meat is certainly on the menu for crows. In fact, meat is among the favorite foods of crows. Although crows eat meat, these birds are not necessarily predators. Rather, they capitalize on a chance for an easy meal. Meat is not always the easiest meal to find, so are crows omnivores?
Crows are indeed omnivores, as they happily gobble up scraps of human foods, seeds, berries, and more when they’re not eating meat. Now, do crows eat meat with feathers on it, or is this where they draw the line? Do crows eat other birds?
Do Crows Eat Other Birds?
Alright, so it’s no question that meat is often on the menu for crows, but many are curious about the types of meat that crows consume. Everyone knows that hawks will readily eat their fellow feathered friends, but what animals do crows eat? Do crows eat other birds?
Yes, crows are known to consume other birds. Crows may consume eggs, baby birds, and even adult birds if they can catch them. In addition to eating live birds, crows may consume dead birds. It seems that crows are often just as happy to eat birds as other types of meat.
So, why do crows attack other birds? Let’s learn more about this subject.
Do All Crows Eat Other Birds?
When most people think of a bird that consumes other bird species, they picture hawks, falcons, or a similar bird of prey. However, it may be time that people begin to consider crows when thinking of a bird that eats fellow feathered creatures. However, do crows eat other birds as a collective group, or do only certain species exhibit this behavior?
Well, all crows are omnivorous, so any crow would consume another bird species if given the opportunity. Some crow species may be more inclined to consume birds than other crows, but no crow would pass up an easy bird meal.
Why Do Crows Eat Birds?
Eating other birds may seem like a disturbing concept to some. Why do crows eat birds when so many other meals are available?
Well, know that crows do not favor eating birds over other prey. They are opportunistic eaters, so they will consume almost any food that they find in their natural habitat. If they happen to come across a smaller bird that is an easy meal, they will likely consume that animal. However, crows are just as happy to eat a stray piece of garbage or any other meal that is readily available.
Adult birds are typically difficult prey for crows to capture, so they will usually consume birds when they’re in vulnerable stages of their lives. When it comes to eating birds, the eggs and nestlings are the primary bird prey that will be consumed by crows. However, deceased birds are easy meals to consume. Several crows may feed off of the carcass of a large bird species such as a goose.
Do Crows Eat Baby Birds?
Okay, we’ve learned that crows eat other birds when they capitalize on easy opportunities to munch on their feathered kin, but where do crows draw the line? For instance, a crow wouldn’t possibly eat a baby bird, right? Let’s settle this; do crows eat baby birds?
Yes, crows do eat baby birds! In fact, crows are not the only corvid to eat baby birds, as Blue Jays, ravens, and magpies also love to eat these helpless creatures. This fact may be disturbing to some; why will crows eat baby birds when so many other food options are available?
It may seem cruel that birds such as crows would devour baby birds, but the reality is that few animals would turn down a chance to eat a baby bird. After all, they can’t fight back and they provide an easy meal for most.
What Bird Species Do Crows Eat?
Do crows kill other birds? Well, we know that crows can kill other birds, but what bird species do crows target? Do crows eat sparrows and other small birds, or do they target larger prey?
The truth is that crows do not tend to target any specific species of birds. Instead, crows pursue vulnerable birds that are easy to find and consume.
Do Crows Eat Chickens?
Those who keep chickens know that these domesticated birds are on the menu for a wide array of creatures. Should chicken owners be concerned about crows? Moreover, do crows eat meat such as chickens, or do crows attack other birds like chickens?
Well, those who only have adult chickens on their property likely won’t need to worry about crows, as most breeds of chickens can hold their own against a crow when they’re mature. However, if you have chicks or chicken eggs around your property, a crow may try to prey on a chicken.
Crow attacks on young chickens are rare, but they do happen from time to time. It is reasonable for chicken owners to worry about crows attacking their chickens, but the truth is that they pose a very minimal threat to chickens.
The eggs and nestlings of any small species will be vulnerable to nest predation by crows. For instance, warblers, sparrows, blackbirds, and other songbirds will be particularly vulnerable to crow depredation.
Baby birds of almost any species could be consumed by a crow. Even the eggs and young of larger species such as waterfowl, gulls, and herons may be eaten by crows. However, they would have a difficult time eating a large adult bird such as a hawk.
Do Crows Eat Dead Birds?
We’ve already established that the answer to, “Do crows eat dead animals?” is yes, but why do crows eat other birds that are already dead?
Well, dead birds are a delicacy for crows. You see, crows and vultures are among nature’s recyclers. They will gladly feast on the body of a dead bird, as such an opportunity is an easy meal for these creatures.
Okay, we know that crows eat dead birds, but do crows eat dead animals too? Indeed – crows will eat most dead animals that they encounter. It does not matter if they have feathers, fur, or scales.
How Do Crows Kill Other Birds?
Now that you know that crows eat birds, you may be wondering how they hunt their fellow feathered creatures. So, how do crows kill other birds?
Well, it is important to remember that they are opportunistic hunters. These corvids do not wake up and decide to kill a bird that day. Rather, crows hunt birds when a good opportunity presents itself. Therefore, they will capitalize on a chance to eat a bird feast when they encounter an injured bird or an unattended young bird. Crows rarely go after healthy adults, as they are not adapted to chase down birds.
You may see a group of crows chasing a hawk or other large bird, but this is not because they want to kill this target of this attack. Rather, they are likely trying to force it to fly away.
Crows are certainly not birds to chase down a healthy adult bird, but are crows cannibalistic? Do crows eat other crows?
Are Crows Cannibals?
We’ve established that crows eat meat and are known to eat other birds, but are crows cannibals? Do crows eat crows, and if so, why do crows eat each other?
It turns out that crows are usually not known to eat other crows. However, there are some exceptions. These birds are highly social creatures that form close bonds and mate for life. They have no interest in eating their kin and are easily able to recognize and avoid eating other crows.
Crows may kill others as they try to fight intruders and protect their territory, but the victors do not consume the deceased crows. It seems that they have evolved to avoid consuming others. This would make sense considering that avoiding cannibalism makes crows less susceptible to various diseases.
Crows seem to revere their counterparts once they have died. In fact, crows are known to participate in crow funerals once a crow has died. There have been many instances in which observers have watched a dozen or more gather around the body of a dead crow and seemingly pay their respects to the deceased bird.
Ornithologists are not certain if crows are truly trying to pay their respects or if they’re simply trying to gather information about how a fellow crow died. Whatever the case, crows are not known to eat others after they’ve died.
Conclusion
Do crows eat other birds? We now know that yes, crows do eat other bird species. Crows are omnivorous, so they consume both plants and animals. In addition to eating insects, small mammals, and reptiles, crows will consume birds.
Crows usually do not catch and kill adult birds, instead eating the eggs or nestlings of birds or eating birds that are already dead.