Crows are living proof that the term “bird-brained” should be considered a compliment, not an insult. While it’s hard to draw a direct comparison between human and animal intelligence, crows consistently rank among the most intelligent animals in the world with their advanced problem-solving skills, social intelligence and long memories. But perhaps most importantly, crows have been shown to possess some level of consciousness and self-awareness, something that only humans and a very select few animals (mostly primates) appear to have. They’re clever, they’re resourceful and they’re even social enough to establish long-lasting friendships with humans. So, how do you make friends with crows and get crows to like you?

As intelligent as crows are, the differences between us and them are still large enough that befriending a crow isn’t quite the same as befriending a human. Making a buddy out of your friendly neighborhood bird isn’t an impossible task, though. If you want to befriend a crow, you’re in luck because we’re breaking down crow behaviors, crow communication, how you can earn a crow’s trust and more. That way, if you want to attract crows and become friends with you, you can.

Check out all of our tips and advice below. Before long, you may have a feathery new pal.

How To Make Friends With Crows: A Step-By-Step Guide

The old saying that a way to a man’s heart is through his stomach applies equally to crows of any gender. That means that if you want to bond with a crow, feeding a crow can help you do that. Crows are, understandably, cautious when approaching people they aren’t familiar with, but if you consistently give them good food that’s easily accessible, and give them the space to enjoy it in comfort and safety, they’ll soon start to develop a positive association with you and learn to trust you. However, consistency, quality and a methodical approach are all key to success here.

Step 1: Figure Out What They Like

So, what do crows like and what should you feed them? Crows are opportunistic omnivores, but that doesn’t mean they’ll just eat whatever you put in front of them. Crows can be very picky about their food, especially if they live in an urban environment with a wide variety of good eats at their disposal. Figuring out what foods are most popular with the crows in your neighborhood may take some trial and error. However, you’ll probably have good luck with common crow favorites like these:

• Nuts, seeds and whole grains—ideally, the nuts should be unsalted and in-shell. They also like unsalted popcorn!

• Cooked eggs—scramble them or hard boil them and chop them up into bite-sized pieces

• Fruits and vegetables—this includes apples, cranberries, pumpkin, grapes, banana, peas, and many, many other types of fruits, veggies and berries.

• Meats and animal fats—along with stuff like chicken, beef, and fish, this can include things like wet cat food, suet, and certain insects like mealworms. Just be sure not to leave these items out for too long, lest they turn rotten.

As varied as the crow’s palate is, there are some definite no-nos when it comes to feeding them as well:

• Processed food: Though crows have been known to scavenge junk feed and dine on other processed items if given the opportunity, processed food, as well as overly salted or fatty food, is unhealthy for them. If you’re going to be a good friend to your neighborhood crows, keep their health in mind!

• Chocolate: Chocolate contains a substance called theobromine, which is very toxic to most birds.

• Caffeine: Caffeine can cause a number of very serious health problems in birds, including cardiac issues, seizures and dehydration.

• Avocados: Every part of the avocado contains a chemical called persin, which is seriously toxic to most birds.

• Alliums: Onions and garlic (as well as any prepared foods containing them) both have chemicals that can cause life-threatening conditions like GI distress, anemia and kidney and liver damage in birds. Even small amounts of these foods should be avoided.

Along with any food you give them, don’t forget to include a basin full of fresh water they can drink and bathe in. A bird bath is ideal (and an overall great investment if you’re an avid birdwatcher), but a regular dish will suffice!

Step 2: Establish a Routine

The good news is that once you’ve figured out what your crows want to eat, they’re much more likely to keep coming back—but only if they can rely on you to deliver that food on the reg. Crows are very intelligent and adept at recognizing patterns, so if you establish a consistent routine with them, they’ll know what to expect and when—and in turn, they’ll establish a feeding routine of their own and start showing up on cue when it’s time to eat. If you’re really trying to reel ’em in, try feeding them daily or once every other day, but whatever routine you decide upon, stick to it—and if possible, try to feed them around the same time each day, too.

Step 3: Watch and Wait

Even if a crow spots you putting out food for them each day, they’re not going to immediately completely let their guard down around you. Hover too close to the feeding area, and the crows might never feel comfortable enough to show up in the first place. Let them get used to your presence first!

Put whatever you’re using to feed them (bird feeders, dishes, etc.) in a quiet, open place far away from foot traffic, and observe them from a distance—somewhere where the crows can see you, but without being close enough to establish an immediate threat. Stay patient, stay consistent, and stay calm. As you and your crows establish a routine together, you can slowly start to move closer to them and test their boundaries, just a little bit at a time. If you’re successful, eventually you may get to the point where the crows will happily hang out right next to you without a care in the world!

How To Know If You’ve Forged a Crow Friendship

Unlike with humans, a crow won’t outright tell you that you’re their friend (though crows technically can mimic human speech, they’re not ones to hold full-on conversations). However, over time it should become pretty obvious if you’ve successfully gained a crows’ trust. How? Some signs that a crows trusts you include things like them showing up regularly when they’re expected, and them not objecting to your presence (at least within a safe distance). They may even start bringing other crows over to your house as well. If you’re really lucky, some crows may even start bringing you gifts!

The true beauty of establishing a close bond with crows is that your friendship may last longer than a lifetime—at least, their lifetime. In the wild, the average crow has an expected lifespan of roughly 7-9 years (though a lucky few may live for much longer, up to 25-30 years). However, crows have the remarkable ability of passing down knowledge from generation to generation, including warning their crow children about who are their friends and who are their foes. Crows have infamously long memories when it comes to holding grudges, but they also remember those who were kind to them, passing that information down to their offspring. Maintain a loyal friendship with your crow pals, and you may just become a friend of the family in the long run!

Frequently Asked Questions

Is It Legal/Ethical To Feed Crows?

This is a tricky two part question, so let’s tackle each part one at a time. First off: as far as legality goes, in most places, feeding crows is legal, as is feeding most wild birds in general. That being said, some places may have local “nuisance ordinances” against feeding crows in the interests of preventing pests, the spread of disease, and attracting large numbers of congregating crows—after all, with many birds comes many bird droppings. It’s a good idea to read up on local regulations, municipal codes, and even your state’s laws regarding wildlife feeding just to make sure you’re in the clear.

Now to the ethics question: some people believe that feeding crows as problematic as feeding any wild animal, as it can encourage an unhealthy dependency on humans. However, most bird experts agree that feeding wild birds, crows included, is fine as long as it’s done within moderation and with care. In fact, feeding birds can actually be beneficial for them during migration season or the wintertime, when food may be in short supply. The National Audubon Society has a great informative piece on how to feed birds ethically and safely.

Can I Capture a Crow I’ve Befriended and Make It My Pet?

While it’s one thing to establish a friendly relationship with the crows in your neighborhood, actually attempting contact with them—or worse, trying to force one into captivity—crosses a major line. In the United States, all crows are protected under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act (MBTA), which makes it illegal (and potentially felonious) to capture, kill, sell, trade or transport any protected bird species (or any part of them, like their feathers or eggs) without a permit.

Besides, even without taking the law into consideration, wild crows are highly social and intelligent species that needs lots of wide open space, and subjecting one to a life in captivity away from its family and friends would be incredibly cruel, to say the least. On top of that, finding veterinary care for your crow would be extremely difficult, as no reputable vet would risk their career to treat an illegal pet. So no, crows just aren’t meant to be pets, and we should respect that. When it comes to your crow friends, you can look, but don’t touch!

Do Crows Migrate?

Even though crows are considered migratory birds under the MBTA, they’re technically considered “partially migratory,” which essentially means that some migrate while others are “resident”—and a lot of it comes down to location, location, location. Crows that live in the southern part of their habitat range will usually stay put, while crows further up north may migrate south for the winter. Additionally, crows in urban and suburban areas travel far less than crows in rural areas, in large part due to the abundance of food sources and scavenging sites year-round.

What Should I Do If I Find An Injured Crow?

If you find a crow that appears to be injured, don’t attempt to treat its injuries yourself. Instead, gently pick it up and place it in a container (ideally a soft-sided container like a bag to prevent further injuries) and bring it to a wildlife rehabilitator as soon as possible. The American Bird Conservancy has a step-by-step guide on how to safely handle a injured bird, as well as links you can use to look up your nearest wildlife rehabilitation center.

This story was originally reported by PetHelpful on Oct 31, 2025, where it first appeared in the Birds section. Add PetHelpful as a Preferred Source by clicking here.