What Do Ravens Eat? (Common Raven Diet)

Common Crow (crow) is the largest songbird in the world and one of nearly two dozen species in the genus. They are widely distributed across the globe, and one of the keys to their success is a generalist diet and matching intelligence and cunning. So what do crows eat?

Crows are omnivores and feed mainly on carrion. They are both scavengers and predators, good at finding opportunities, strategizing and taking advantage of other animals. They feed on trash in suburban suburbs, follow wolf packs in the wilderness, and even visit bird feeders.

Ravens are true all-rounders. They are known to feed on carrion, but they also prey on their own. These intelligent birds have learned to associate with large predators and humans in search of food. They’ll follow plows and harvesters as they find insects and critters in farm fields, and they’ll find bountiful picks on roads and highways.

Crows have many clever strategies for finding food, but they are also smart enough to save excess food for a rainy day. They may hide their food in moss, snow, leaves or soil. However, their ability to utilize available food sources may make them a pest species in agriculture and livestock. Crows also seriously affect the survival of some threatened bird and reptile species.

This article describes the diet of the common crow. Read on to learn all about the feeding habits of these impressive and intelligent corvids.

Crows are omnivores and eat a wide variety of food due to their opportunistic and scavenger nature

diet

The diet of crows is extremely diverse, with everything from seaweed to the eyes of newborn lambs. Let’s take a closer look at a typical crow meal.

What is a crow’s favorite food?

A crow’s favorite food may be carrion. Animal carcasses can provide a ready source of protein-rich food without the energy and risk of self-hunting.

The birds are quick to take advantage of the free food, though they have an interesting problem with eating carcasses.

It is difficult for crows to feed on large animal carcasses unless the skin has been damaged by a predator, hunter, or motor vehicle. That’s because they lack the strength and sharpness to break open tough mammalian hide.

What Birds Do Crows Eat?

Birds are an important part of the common crow’s diet. They feed on live and dead birds and prey on eggs, chicks and adults. These large corvids may not have the speed and claws of professional bird hunters like peregrine falcons, but they can catch live adults.

Common crows are known to feed on many species, including the following:

• Seabirds such as gulls, kittiwakes, terns, and cuttlefish
• pigeons and doves
• twinkle and woodpecker

Crow perched on a branch eating a mouse

What Seeds Do Crows Eat?

Crows can eat almost any large, nutritious seed, including:

• corn
• wheat
• barley
• oat

What insects do crows eat?

Crows eat a variety of insects and other invertebrates, including:

• locust
• butterflies and moths
• Ant
• scorpion
• snails and slugs
• shellfish

what fruit do crows eat

Crows eat many types of fruit, depending on what is available. Examples include figs, cherries, cranberries, and prickly pear fruits. Crows also feed on nuts and peanuts such as pistachios and peanuts.

Close up of a common crow eating rowan berries

foraging behavior

Crows demonstrate an amazing ability to find and utilize local food sources. Their foraging techniques and areas change between seasons as different food sources become available.

Crows interact with humans by foraging in landfills, along highways and in agricultural fields. They steal food from other birds and animals and track large predators in wilderness areas that provide a source of carrion. Read on to learn more about crow foraging and feeding.

How often do crows eat?

Crows eat every day. They require a lot of energy to maintain their metabolism, especially in cold northern environments. A study in the 1970s showed that crows need more than 300 calories a day. This is equivalent to almost a half pound of chicken breast.

Do crows go to feeders?

Crows are not your typical backyard birds, but they do occasionally visit feeders. They prefer meat and suet, although they will also eat grains and fruit.

Best Feeders for Crows

Crows can only feed comfortably from large platform bird feeders. They will also feed from the ground, fence posts, or the bends of trees.

What time of day do crows eat?

Crows are diurnal birds, which means they are only active during the day. They start foraging in the morning, especially on the highway, where they have to quickly find the previous night’s Land Rover.

Crows feed from a rotting tree stump in the woods

How do crows find food?

Crows find food by flying or walking. They follow large predators, such as cougars and wolves, in wilderness areas in search of prey. They can find food by smell, but sight is their primary sense. Sound is also important, and they will listen to the calls of other crows, wolves, and even gunshots.

Read on to learn what crows eat at different times of the year.

What do crows eat in winter?

Crows do not migrate, so they must adjust their diet according to the food resources available. They typically rely on the following food sources during the winter:

• Rubbish
• Animal carcasses left by predators, roadkill and natural deaths
• crops such as barley

What do crows eat in summer?

Reptiles and insects such as grasshoppers are most abundant during the warmer months. These may have been caught live or picked up along the way. Spring and summer are also times when chicks and fledglings are common, and crows are notorious for raiding nests and preying on lumbering young birds.

What do little crows eat?

Both male and female crows feed their chicks by spitting their own food and water directly from the throat pouch.

Crows feed mainly on carrion

Feeding and Attracting Crows

Crows are not the kind of birds most bird lovers would like to see in their backyards, but in some parts of the world they can be attracted to bird feeders. Read on to learn how to encourage these raven-like crows.

Can you feed the crows?

Feeding wild crows is okay, but as with all wild birds, feeding should be limited and irregular to prevent dependence. Note that crows are considered a pest in some areas, so affected parties may discourage it. If you do feed wild birds, it is vital to keep the feeding area clean and hygienic to avoid spreading disease.

What can I feed a crow?

Crows eat a variety of foods. They prefer meaty foods such as dry cat or dog food and suet, but they will also eat seeds, nuts and fruit.

What not to feed crows?

Do not feed crows heavily processed, moldy, or rotting/rotten food.

A pair of crows perched on an old tree stump

What do crows drink?

Crows only drink fresh water. They drink water every day and travel long distances to find fresh drinking water sources.

How do you attract crows?

You can attract crows by serving foods rich in fat and meat, such as suet and dog or cat food.

Are there crows?

Crows are fascinating birds. They have a bad reputation for various reasons, so be aware that they are mischievous and will prey on other birds, their eggs, and chicks. They also mess up litter and damage food crops.

crow drinking fresh water

common problem

do crows eat fish

In some regions, fish may be an important part of a crow’s diet. They often prey on dead fish such as salmon, but can also catch live fish such as smelt in shallow water.

Do crows eat bread?

Crows will eat bread when they have time. Many birds will eat bread, although it is not a very healthy meal in large quantities.

Do crows eat dead bodies?

Crows often feed on the carcasses of many different species. In fact, these birds are often most abundant along busy highways, where roadkill animals provide a quick meal each morning.

A pair of crows fighting for prey

Are crows scavengers?

Crows rely heavily on scavengers, especially during the northern winter when many food sources are hard to come by. They follow predators such as wolves and feed on the remains of their prey, but they also seek out animals that died of natural causes. Crows also feed on the afterbirths of larger animals such as cows.

Are crows omnivores?

Crows are omnivores, which means they eat plants and animals. In some cases, they may even eat more grains and plant material than meat.

Do crows eat frogs?

Many predatory birds eat frogs and toads, and crows are no exception. In fact, crows can catch and kill most toads in shallow water breeding grounds.

Do crows eat squirrels?

Crows will eat baby and roadkill squirrels, and may even hunt healthy adults when the opportunity presents itself. However, crows have a hard time eating squirrels because their skin is tough and difficult to remove.