Do Crows Remember Faces? (And Hold Grudges + Remember Kindness?)

Crows, a member of the Corvidae family, are among the most intelligent, cunning, and fascinating species in the animal kingdom. Their ability to use tools sets corvids apart from other birds, and even most mammals.

You’re probably already familiar with this bird’s propensity to use tools to solve complex problems, but did you know crows also have high emotional and social intelligence?

Recent research has proven that crows can remember the faces of other birds and even humans. They can distinguish between those who are kind to them and those who stress them out. Crows will even pass this information on to other generations.

In this article, we take a closer look at the intelligence of crows and their ability to recognize and remember human faces. Read on to discover more about these clever crows!

Crows have an incredible ability to remember the faces of other birds and humans

Can a crow recognize you?

Crows can indeed recognize you. Facial recognition has been proven through a few different studies. Some just show how crows can read a person’s intentions based on our demeanor. For example, if a human approached a crow without making eye contact, the crow would not move away.

However, if someone walks directly towards them and keeps their eyes on the crow, they will fly away. Crows know that when people go about their business and mind their own business, they usually don’t pose a threat, whereas a person who shows interest in approaching a bird may be a threat.

Other studies have been conducted to demonstrate the ability of crows to recognize individual facial features. One of the studies involved two groups of people wearing two different sets of masks. One group was sent to trap a flock of crows, while the other walked around the crows without attempting to interact with them at all.

Five years later, the same team came to the same park. The group that trapped the crows had previously been mobbed by a flock of angry crows, while the group that didn’t interact with the crows were left alone.

The study demonstrates that the birds not only recognize and respond to groups that have previously stressed them, but also pass this information on to their young and other crows living in the park.

Crows have learned to tell when people are passing by and when they are threatened

How long do crows remember faces?

Crows are thought to remember faces for up to five years, according to studies such as the mask test. Of course, this is when the birds do not see an individual or group on a regular basis.

Five years is an exceptionally long time for a bird to recall a human face. Especially considering the average lifespan of wild crows is 13 years.

Will the crow hold a grudge?

Perhaps not surprisingly, given the above information, crows can and do hold grudges. It’s important to always be kind to other creatures, but of course you have to be careful not to get on the bad side of crows.

As seen in the mask study, crows are likely to attack or act aggressively towards anyone who causes them significant stress. They may also pass this information on to other crows who were not involved in the initial encounter.

Crows’ high intelligence and ability to recognize faces is why many who study them wear different masks depending on the task. This allows the same person to trap and tie crows one day (a task that is often stressful for birds) and simply observe them in the field the next.

Many people think it’s an old wives’ tale, but the crow really does have a grudge!

Does the crow remember kindness?

Fear not, crows don’t just hold grudges against people who have wronged them or appear to have wronged them. These incredible birds also remember kindness. Crows are extremely curious social animals. This often leads them to be curious about people.

If you generally enjoy watching these birds and their amusing antics, you can welcome them into your yard. Crows love a wide variety of invertebrates, fruits, seeds and grains.

They feed primarily on the ground, so will likely clean up food that falls from your bird feeder. Crows also forage from fruit trees and shrubs.

Providing foods that crows prefer along with a safe space around your home will make these birds feel welcome. Crows might even recognize your kindness and become more trusting of you, gaining a deeper understanding of their cunning, brilliant minds.

On the other end of the scale, crows also remember the kindness done to them

Do crows tell other crows about humans?

It may seem crazy that a crow can communicate its feelings about humans to other crows, but it’s true. The same research that proves crows can remember faces also shows that they can pass the information on to other crows.

If a crow has a particularly stressful experience with a person or group of people, it will tell other crows about those people. And, if one encounters these people in the future, Raven will most likely make it clear that the person (or people) is not needed.

The same goes for people who show particular kindness to crows. They may remember your face and may pass this information on to their social groups.

Maybe you’ll find yourself befriending the neighborhood crows. Who wouldn’t want a title like this? These creatures are truly incredible and fascinating to observe.