My good, good brother Ed asked me a question not too long ago. He and his husband Mark were out walking. They spotted a couple of crows. They wondered how crows know the difference between males and females.
To the human eye, all crows look alike.
Well. I had to know. I found out that crows (and many birds) can tell the difference between males and females using visual and behavioral cues. Those things are very visible to the birds, but now so much to us humans. .
A few things are true when it comes to this. Male crows are generally a bit larger and bulkier than females. Their beaks and heads can also be slightly bigger. Also, males may display more dominant or territorial behavior, particularly during mating season.
Here is another thing. Their words. Crows are highly vocal. They may recognize differences in the pitch, rhythm, or pattern of calls between males and females. And. Finally. Some birds see in ultraviolet (UV) light. We humans can’t detect any difference in crow plumage. But scientists say that UV patterns differ between the sexes and that crows can detect this.
Bottom line? Crows are plain old smart.
My brother also asked if birds can smell. Well. As a matter of fact they can. Although it varies by species.
Crows and other corvids do have a sense of smell, but it’s not their primary tool. They rely more on sight and intelligence. But get this. Birds like vultures, seabirds (like petrels), and kiwis have a strong sense of smell. They use it to find food or navigate. Vultures and their roadkill. Mmmm. Mmmmm. Goood.
Birds use their olfactory bulbs (brain structures) to process scent. In species that rely on smell, these bulbs are large. Those smell spaces are well-developed.
And you may be wondering about their noses. Well, those holes in a bird’s beak are called nares, and they are indeed for smelling and breathing. It is just like nostrils in humans.
So there you have it. Crows know girl crows from boy crows, in many different ways. And. When you see a crow? Just remember. They can smell you coming.
And to my brother Ed. Wave to those crows for me. The girls and the boys.
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“Crows are as smart as great apes. They understand cause and effect, make tools, and even plan for the future.” — Jennifer Ackerman
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“Birds are not just feathered automatons. They are thinking, feeling creatures with complex behaviors.” — Jonathan Balcombe
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“To watch a bird is to see something almost beyond our understanding—a will, a grace, and a secret knowledge of the air.” — William Beebe
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“In the eyes of animals, we find reflections of intelligence shaped differently than our own.” — Carl Safina
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