What do crows eat in the wild?
A crow does not have one favourite food that defines the species.
It searches.
On the ground, American Crows pick up insects, worms, fallen fruit, seeds, nuts, and other edible things. They catch small animals. Around shorelines and wet areas they may eat fish, crayfish, mussels, clams, or young turtles.
Then the season changes and the menu changes with it.
This broad diet is one reason the word omnivore fits so well.
Do crows eat insects?
Lots of them.
Insects can be an important part of the diet, and crows also eat other invertebrates such as earthworms. Cornell notes that some of the insects they consume are agricultural pests.
You may see a crow walking slowly across a lawn, stopping, pecking, and probing. It is not just looking for dropped French fries.
Do crows eat nuts and seeds?
Yes.
Grains, seeds, and nuts are regular crow foods. They also eat fruit and berries.
Crows are good at recognizing food opportunities and remembering where food turns up. A productive walnut tree, field, compost area, or feeding spot can become part of a regular route.
That memory is one reason our page on do birds remember bird feeders? connects nicely with crow behaviour.
Do crows eat other birds?
Sometimes.
American Crows can take eggs and nestlings from other birds. Cornell lists nest predation as part of their normal feeding ecology.
That can feel brutal if the nest is one you have been watching. It is still natural behaviour.
Crows are predators, scavengers, seed eaters, insect eaters, and opportunists all at once. Trying to place them into a simple "good bird" or "bad bird" category tells us more about people than crows.
Do crows eat dead animals?
Yes, crows eat carrion.
But they are not vultures with a crow costume.
Carrion is only part of an American Crow’s diet. Cornell also notes that a crow’s bill is not built to tear open tough hide as easily as the bill of a large scavenger.
They often take advantage of carcasses that are already accessible.
Why do crows eat garbage?
Because garbage can contain calories.
Crows are exceptionally good at using human-modified environments. Parks, parking lots, campgrounds, farms, landfills, roadsides, and neighbourhoods can all offer food.
That adaptability has helped American Crows live successfully around towns and cities.
It also means people can accidentally train crows to inspect overflowing bins, pet dishes, and food scraps.
What can I feed crows?
First, check local rules. Wildlife feeding is restricted in some places, and feeding that creates nuisance wildlife is not doing the birds or the neighbours a favour.
If feeding is appropriate, plain unsalted peanuts are a common choice. Keep portions modest and the area clean.
Avoid salty, heavily processed food and anything spoiled or mouldy.
Robin has used food puzzles made for dogs with the crows that visit our home. Watching them work out how to reach food is a lot more interesting than simply tossing a pile onto the lawn.
That connects with do birds play? and how smart are birds?.
Do crows remember who feeds them?
Crows are very good at learning about people and places.
Research has shown that American Crows can recognize individual human faces associated with threatening experiences and retain that information for years. A reliable, non-threatening food source can also become part of what a bird learns about its surroundings.
That does not mean every crow at a feeding spot has a human-style friendship with the person putting out food.
It does mean they notice more than people sometimes assume.
Do ravens eat the same things?
There is plenty of overlap.
Common Ravens are also highly adaptable omnivores. They eat carrion, insects, grains, fruit, eggs, small animals, human food, and many other available foods.
The two species are different birds, though, and habitat changes which foods they encounter.
If you are not sure which black bird is visiting, start with crow vs raven.
American Crow species guide
For identification, voice, family life, nesting, range, and look-alikes in one place, see our American Crow species guide.
Frequently asked questions
What is a crow's favourite food?
There is no single favourite food for the species. Crows take advantage of whatever nutritious foods are available, and individuals can develop preferences.
Do crows eat mice?
Yes. Small mammals such as mice are part of the broad American Crow diet.
Do crows eat birdseed?
They can eat grains, seeds, and nuts, although crows are more often ground foragers than typical small feeder birds.
Are crows scavengers?
They do scavenge, but scavenging is only one part of a much broader omnivorous feeding strategy.
More crow questions
Continue with why do crows caw?, what is a group of crows called?, or crow vs raven.