Do Crows Mate For Life? (Complete Guide)

Crows are highly social birds, often found in pairs or as part of larger family groups. They form close bonds with their chosen mates, bringing each other gifts of food and grooming each other.

But do these pairings only last for one breeding season, or do the crows mate for life? Read on as we take a closer look at the courtship and mating habits of crows.

Most crows mate for life, forming strong bonds with their companion birds and co-parenting offspring year after year. However, in some cases they also mate with other birds, known as “monogamous but promiscuous”.

A mate that mates with another bird makes up about 18 percent of all crow nests.

For example, when a male bird is injured non-lethally, its fertility may be affected, causing its female mate to mate with another male instead of breeding successfully. The female will remain faithful to her original mate, but will be willing to mate with other males “unconditionally”.

Most crows mate for life, forming strong, lifelong bonds with their mates

Although rare, if breeding attempts are unsuccessful, it is not unheard of for a bond between a pair of young crows to break, and it is not unheard of for a male and female to form a new pair before trying again.

This division does not occur in more mature birds; once a strong adult pair has formed, they stay together and show deep protection for each other.

The vast majority of crows spend their entire adult lives (average 15 years) with the same companion bird, all year round, usually in a larger group. Male and female crows share the hatching and rearing duties of the chicks, raising a brood of 3 to 9 chicks per year.

Read on to learn more about the deep bond that pairs of crows form, and how crows react when their mate dies.

A pair of jackdaws foraging together

Do all crow species mate for life?

Corvids are said to mate for life. Crows, magpies, jays, and jackdaws all share this trait and remain loyal to a chosen mate once they initially bond. In all crow species, if one mate (whether male or female) dies, the remaining mates will seek out new mates to continue breeding in subsequent seasons.

Jackdaws choose a mate during the first year of life and have their first breeding the following year. They will remain together until the death of one partner.

Another species of crow that mates for life is the magpie, which pairs when they reach maturity in their first year. Breeding may be delayed until the following year, although bonded pairs stay together as part of larger non-breeding herds.

Crows form strong bonds with their chosen mates, but like other crows, if their previous mate dies or disappears, they choose a new mate. Outside of the breeding season, they maintain a strong bond by soaring together, grooming and singing to each other.

After an intense and complex courtship selection process, bluejays remain loyal to their mates until the death of one pair, sharing nesting and breeding duties and giving each other gifts throughout the year to keep them close.

Magpies mate for life – usually forming a mate in the first year

How do crows attract mates?

Crows mature at around two years old, but usually don’t breed for the first time until they are four years old. Crows follow an elaborate pattern of courtship rituals before mating.

Male crows use softer, quieter coos as part of their courtship rituals than the louder calls crows make most often.

Males try to impress females with their feathers, which they spread out and bow their heads. Next is nuzzling the beak of a potential mate, and if the female shows interest, the male may perform a series of dives to show off his flying skills.

Once the female’s stamp of approval is awarded, a period of mutual courtship ensues, with bonded pairs spending time flying together and grooming each other. They will then work together to establish a territory before the actual act of mating finally takes place.

A pair of crows courting

What happens when a crow mate dies?

While crows are generally monogamous, they seek out new mates if their original mate dies or becomes injured and unable to reproduce. This is true for both male and female crows. Losses are repaired quickly after they occur, and there doesn’t seem to be any period of mourning, no matter how strong their bond is.

Do crows grieve the loss of a mate?

Research by Science Focus suggests that crows may indeed possess a degree of empathy, grieving the death of another crow, if the ritual of a “crow funeral” is any guide.

When a crow encounters the carcass of any other crow, the crow will hold a mob “funeral,” sounding a loud siren to summon any other crows that may be nearby. The rowdy “mourners” gathered for a while before dissipating.

Many theories suggest that such events are not actually related to grief, but rather a way of communicating the location of potential danger to other crows.

There is no evidence to support whether this response was particularly strong or any different when losing a mate than when any other crow died.

A somewhat annoying element of these crow mourning rituals is the frequent interaction of other crows with the corpse. A pair of crows has been observed mating above or next to the carcass of a deceased crow.

Male crows have sometimes been seen attempting to climb onto dead crows, and female crows have also displayed pre-mating behavior around dead crows.

Crows perform mob funerals, where they call to nearby crows

Do female crows mate with each other?

There is no evidence that female crows mate with each other. From a distance, it can be difficult to distinguish female crows from males based on appearance alone. However, if you happen to see a mating pair of crows, it will always be a male and female pair.