Crow Calls – A Language of Their Own
Crows have an enormous variety of calls, and when one of their own dies, they use special distress and mourning calls that sound completely different from their normal “caw-caw.”
These calls are hoarse, deep, and repetitive — and they often attract other crows from long distances.
Below are examples of crow vocalizations and body language I’ve observed firsthand over years with my regular flock, plus a few additional behaviors documented in research:
Crow Sounds & Body Language — and What They Mean
| Sound / Body Language | Possible Meaning |
|---|---|
| Caw-caw (normal call) | General communication |
| Rattle / clicking sounds | Alarm, irritation, confusion |
| Rough, hoarse croaking | Stress, grief, agitation |
| High-pitched screams | Attention, alarm, danger |
| Head bow + click | Greeting, begging, impatience |
| Harsh growl-like sound | Annoyed, displeased |
| Repeated pop/boing sounds | Contact call, playful communication |
| Hopping or running with wings spread | Joy, excitement, greeting |
| Close fly-by with no sound | Friendly welcome, recognition |
| Open beak panting | Cooling down / heat regulation |
| Gentle head or beak nudges | Affection, grooming invitation |
| Beak rubbing on objects | Cleaning beak / asking for food |
| Pecking lightly at the ground | Boredom / attention-seeking |
| Wings spread on the ground | Sunbathing / ant-bathing / parasite control |
| Raised neck feathers | Threat display, dominance |
| ‘Penguin-walk’ posture | Territorial warning |
| Wing flaps + open beak + noise | Food begging (juveniles, sometimes females) |
| Pink-colored mouth interior | Young crow (under 2 years) |
| Flying in circles | Searching for food or flock members |
| Formation flight (silent) | Coordination, group movement |
| Formation flight (with calls) | Warning, defensive organization |
| Wild chasing (silent) | Play behavior |
| Wild chasing (with loud calls) | Aggression, defense |
| Tail fanning | Agitation, dominance |
| Sideways hopping | Excited courtship or playful signal |
| Slow, exaggerated wing beats | Non-threatening approach |
| Soft “coo” or murmur | Social bonding, close contact |
| Blue eyes | Very young “baby” crow |
| Bill clacking rapidly | High-level agitation or a warning to back off |
Every nuance matters — tone, rhythm, repetition, speed, and context.
When I’m out in the field, I can often tell how far away a threat is just by listening to their calls.
Crows even warn me sometimes before danger arrives — sending signals through the treetops like an invisible network of guards.
Create Your Own Call
Crows are incredibly intelligent and can learn to recognize your voice and your personal call signals.
That means you can invent your own call so you can communicate with them at a distance.
Here’s how to start:
- When the crows give 3 caws, answer with your own call three times.
- If they give 2 caws, reply with 2 of your calls.
- If you use the same sound every time you bring food, they quickly learn to associate that call with you.
With consistency, they will:
✅ recognize your voice
✅ respond to your signals
✅ and sometimes call back in the same pattern — almost like a shared “dialogue”
This strengthens trust and becomes part of the communication system between you and your local crows.de dine kald af den toneart med mad og det samme kan du gøre når du vil advare eller sende andre signaler til dem.