The Crowman’s Guide to Denmark’s Corvids
Welcome to the mysterious world of the corvids
– crows, ravens, jackdaws, rooks, magpies, jays, and all their remarkable relatives.
I call myself The Crowman because I’ve spent countless hours over many years befriending these incredible beings.
I’ve watched them, listened to them, spoken with them, laughed with them – and learned far more from them than I ever expected.
My goal? To open your eyes to their brilliance… and maybe even let their stories echo in your dreams.
Corvids (Corvidae) are among the most intelligent and adaptable birds on the entire planet.
They are social, curious, inventive – and true survivors.
In Denmark, we have seven of these masterpieces of nature:
the hooded crow, carrion crow, jackdaw, rook, magpie, Eurasian jay, and the raven.
Let me take you on a journey through their world – and show you why each species has something extraordinary that deserves our respect, curiosity, and pure admiration.
Hooded Crow & Carrion Crow (Corvus cornix & Corvus corone)
What They Look Like
The hooded crow walks around in its own dramatic outfit:
a soft ash-grey body with a jet-black head, chest, wings, and tail.
In several countries, people call it a “hoodie” — and honestly, that makes perfect sense, right?
The carrion crow, on the other hand, is the night itself.
Completely black from beak to tail, but if you catch the light just right, its feathers shimmer with bluish and green metallic tones.
And here’s a fun twist: the two species can interbreed and produce young — chicks with a stunning mix of grey and black plumage.
Things get confusing, though, when you see a juvenile rook.
It can look almost identical to a carrion crow.
The only reliable difference is the beak — but only once the rook gets older.
Adult rooks develop a pale, bare beak, while carrion crows (and young rooks) have a fully black beak.
Where They Live — and What They Do
In Denmark, the hooded crow is our everyday generalist.
You’ll find it in fields, city parks, beaches, harbours, forests — everywhere.
The carrion crow is more restricted and mainly lives in southwestern Jutland and southern Zealand.
Both species are here year-round, but in winter something magical happens:
thousands of Scandinavian crows arrive and gather in huge sleeping colonies, the so-called roosts.
Imagine this:
Thousands of crows pouring into a forest area at sunset.
Circling, scolding, storytelling, arguing, gossiping, forming alliances — a living tapestry of wings and voices.
They gather in roosts for safety, to exchange information — and yes, also a little for romance.
Crows often mate for life, although they’re not always perfectly faithful.
But most return to the same partner year after year.
And I’m lucky: my regular crows host one of these roosts.
From October to March, I meet crows from all over Scandinavia.
So if I one day stand in Norway or Sweden and a crow suddenly recognises me — well, it might just be an old friend from the winter gatherings.
Food
Crows are natural opportunists.
They eat:
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seeds
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insects
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small animals
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carrion
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food scraps
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basically anything edible they can find
Their incredible dietary flexibility is one of the main reasons corvids have survived everything — from human “clean-up culture” to noisy, modern city life.
Jackdaw (Corvus monedula)
What It Looks Like
The jackdaw is the small, elegant acrobat of the crow family — compact, lightning-fast, and with a gaze you never forget.
It has:
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a black body with a beautiful silver-grey “cloak” on the neck
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a dark, helmet-like cap of feathers on the head
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and the characteristic glowing ice-blue eyes that look straight through you
The jackdaw’s stare is one of the most expressive in the entire bird world.
If the hooded crow is the philosopher and the raven is the Viking, then the jackdaw is the little street performer — always alert, always watching, always aware of every detail.
Behaviour & Social Rules
Jackdaws are extremely social.
They live in tight-knit groups, almost like little families or neighbourhoods.
They:
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fly together
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sleep together
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find food together
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and constantly gossip about new discoveries
They form strong bonds with one another — and yes, they can also bond with humans.
Many jackdaws choose one specific human friend, whom they follow and communicate with.
And here’s something important:
Jackdaws are known for keeping track of human faces.
Like crows and ravens, they remember you — for a long time.
Where They Live
Jackdaws are common throughout Denmark, especially in:
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cities
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villages
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gardens
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cemeteries
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old buildings
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forests and parks
They love holes, crevices, and sheltered spaces where they can build nests, and they’re not afraid of humans.
That’s why you often hear their small, chattering calls around houses and rooftops.
In winter, they join rooks, crows, and magpies in large, lively roosts, settling down in groups of hundreds — sometimes thousands.
Food
Jackdaws are omnivorous little problem-solvers. They eat:
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insects
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seeds
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berries
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small animals
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food scraps
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kernels
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and anything else they can find in nature or urban environments
Their curiosity makes them excellent discoverers.
It’s often the jackdaws who find new food sources first — and then tell the rest of the flock where the party is.
The Jackdaw & The Crowman
Many jackdaws seek me out throughout the year. They’re curious, quick, and bold.
It’s not unusual for a jackdaw to land close to me, check whether I brought snacks, or simply observe what I’m doing.
Those little blue eyes give everything away.
If a jackdaw likes you, you’ll know it — and if it doesn’t, you’ll know that too.
The Rook (Corvus frugilegus)
What It Looks Like
The rook is the elegant aristocrat of the crow family — slender, long-legged, and with an almost royal posture.
It has:
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deep black feathers that shimmer with purple, blue, and green tones in sunlight
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a long, pointed beak
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and in adult birds: the distinctive pale, bare base of the beak, which gives them away from a long distance
Only adults have that pale “bald” patch at the base of the beak.
Young rooks, on the other hand, look so much like carrion crows that even ornithologists sometimes need a second look.
Behaviour & Social Relationships
Rooks are extremely social. They don’t do anything alone if they can do it together.
They:
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live in colonies
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build nests in colonies
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fly in large formations
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and make noise in chorus (often all day long)
Rook colonies are like small treetop cities — full of drama, family intrigues, alliances, and constant communication.
It’s nature’s version of a busy village with hundreds of neighbours, all convinced they have something important to say.
And yes: they can be loud.
But their noise is also a sign of a strong social structure and good overall wellbeing.
Where They Live
Rooks are found throughout Denmark, especially:
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around farmland
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in large parks
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in urban woodlands
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and near open fields where food is easy to find
In spring, they build huge colonies that can fill entire treetops.
They are among the most faithful nest builders in the bird world — many colonies remain in the same place for decades.
When winter arrives, rooks often join jackdaws, hooded crows, and carrion crows in communal roosts.
There you can see thousands of them dancing across the sky in beautiful, dark waves.
Food
Rooks are specialised foragers that love:
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insects
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worms
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larvae
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seeds
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grain
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nuts
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and the occasional small animal
They use their long beaks like nature’s tweezers, probing the soil for hidden treats.
They can also adapt — and like all corvids, they’re not above grabbing food scraps or easy snacks if the opportunity appears.
The Rook & The Crowman
Rooks often visit me in large groups, especially in winter.
They sit in the treetops and loudly comment on everything I do — behaving like an audience that simply must share its opinion.
There is always one rook who takes the lead and shouts the loudest… and the rest follow.
When rooks accept you, they do it as an entire flock.
It’s never just one friend — it’s the whole neighbourhood.
Eurasian Magpie (Pica pica)
The magpie is one of the most intelligent and easily recognizable birds in the crow family.
It is found throughout large parts of Europe, Asia, and North Africa, and is known for its striking appearance, high intelligence, and curious behaviour.
Appearance
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Black-and-white plumage with a long, iridescent blue-green tail
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Shiny black head, chest, and wings
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White shoulders and belly
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The long tail makes up more than half of the bird’s total body length
The magpie’s glossy colours are especially vivid in sunlight, giving it a metallic, almost jewel-like sheen.
Distribution
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Widely distributed across Europe, including Denmark, England, Ireland, and Scandinavia
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Also found throughout much of Asia — from the Middle East to Russia and China
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Lives in forests, parks, cities, farmland, and suburban neighbourhoods
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Extremely adaptable and thrives close to humans
Intelligence
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One of the smartest birds in the world
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One of the very few animals capable of recognizing itself in a mirror
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Can use simple tools, solve puzzles, hide food, and plan ahead
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Has advanced communication skills and excellent memory
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Learns quickly from both experience and other birds
The magpie’s problem-solving ability rivals that of some primates.
Behaviour
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Often lives in pairs or small social groups
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Builds large, dome-shaped nests
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Eats almost anything: insects, berries, fruit, small animals, eggs, carrion, and food scraps
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Very curious, bold, and investigative
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Keeps a close eye on its surroundings and reacts instantly to new stimuli
Cultural Significance
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Known from folklore and legends throughout Europe
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Often portrayed as mischievous and clever due to its personality
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Symbolizes intelligence, communication, adaptability — and sometimes luck
Eurasian Jay (Garrulus glandarius)
The Eurasian jay is one of the most colourful and eye-catching members of the crow family.
It lives throughout much of Europe and Asia, and in Denmark it is well known for its striking plumage, loud calls, and impressive intelligence.
Appearance
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Light brown / pinkish-brown body
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A distinctive black “moustache” stripe by the beak
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Black-and-white markings on the wings
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A striking blue wing patch with turquoise, black, and white stripes
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Black tail and a pale, slightly streaked crown
A beautiful and unmistakable bird in the forest.
Distribution
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Found across all of Europe and large parts of Asia
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Common in Denmark — especially in forests, parks, and large gardens
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Prefers deciduous forests but also lives in mixed woodlands and near residential areas
Intelligence
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One of the most intelligent corvids
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Can mimic sounds — including other birds, animals, and sometimes humans
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Has excellent memory and caches thousands of acorns for the winter
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Capable of planning, problem-solving, and navigating large territories
The jay’s ability to remember where it has hidden food is extraordinary.
Behaviour
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Often shy and stays hidden among the trees
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Lives in pairs or small family groups
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Known for flying silently and gracefully through the forest
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Diet includes insects, acorns, fruit, seeds, nuts, eggs, small animals, and food scraps
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Plays a major role in forest growth — many hidden acorns eventually grow into new oak trees
Cultural Significance
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Known as “the guardian of the forest” — it gives loud alarm calls when predators or humans approach
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Symbolizes long-term thinking, planning, and protection
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In old folklore, the jay was seen as a bird with secret knowledge of the forest
The Raven (Corvus corax)
And finally — the raven.
The master of them all.
Larger than a hawk, older than the myths, and wise in a way humans can only glimpse.
Wherever I go — along beaches, in forests, across open landscapes — the ravens find me.
Sometimes they fly above me, growling deeply in their rough, dark voices,
as if sharing ancient secrets I’m only meant to understand halfway.
Power & Presence
A raven’s wingspan can reach over 120 centimeters.
Its eyes see details we can’t even imagine,
and its voice — a whole language of clicks, calls, growls, and songs —
can travel for miles through the air.
They can mimic human voices, play with wolves,
and invent their own little games in the snow or with sticks tossed by the wind.
Ravens mate for life.
They grieve their dead.
And yes — they can laugh.
A deep, rolling, croaking laughter,
when they tumble through the air, dive and twist,
simply because the world is wonderful enough to play in.
I’ve shared moments with ravens
that felt beyond language —
a quiet understanding between two souls,
both marked by the world,
yet still willing to believe in it.
A raven doesn’t just carry wings.
It carries a story older than our own —
and a wisdom one can only approach
with respect, wonder,
and an open heart.
The Importance – and Protection – of Corvids
Crows, ravens, jackdaws, magpies, jays — the corvid family is not just part of nature.
They shape it.
They are the quiet guardians of the wild.
They keep ecosystems in balance by eating insects and pests, cleaning up carcasses, and spreading seeds that later grow into forests.
Every time a crow cracks a nut, or a jay hides an acorn, it’s not just for survival —
it’s nature breathing through them.
And yet, corvids are among the most misunderstood animals on Earth.
They are too smart, too curious, too confident — and because of that, they are often feared or hated.
They have been shot, poisoned and driven away…
for doing the very work that keeps the natural world alive.
But that story can be rewritten.
I’ve seen how powerful it is when people finally understand them.
When someone receives a gift from a crow — a berry, a shell, a shiny stone — something changes in their eyes.
A spark.
A realization.
They suddenly see that crows are not “pests.”
They are thinkers. Partners. Friends.
I’ve even trained local crows on a beach to help clean up after humans.
They bring plastic, cigarette butts and pieces of glass in exchange for small treats.
They learn fast, and they instantly know what belongs in nature — and what doesn’t.
How We Can Help
1. Stop calling them pests.
They are essential to ecosystem health — as cleaners, recyclers and watchers.
Without them, disease would spread, waste would pile up, and the forest floor would fall silent.
2. Protect their homes.
Plant trees.
Defend old trees.
Crows, jays and ravens rely on tall trees for nesting, shelter and safety.
Every tree you plant is an invitation for new life.
3. Share their story.
Tell others what you’ve learned.
Show them that corvids are not villains — they’re vital allies.
Let people see the beauty in a crow’s glossy eye,
the loyalty of a lifelong pair,
or the joy of a raven laughing as it tumbles through the wind.
If we choose respect over fear,
curiosity over superstition,
the world will once again echo with the voices of crows.
Not as outcasts —
but as beings we share this world with.
As thinkers.
As equals.
As creatures we owe space, protection and understanding.
Learn More About Corvids
Want to understand these remarkable birds on a deeper level?
Here are some great places to start:
Wikipedia – “Corvidae”
A solid, scientific introduction to one of the most intelligent bird families on the planet.
YouTube – “The Intelligence of Crows”
Watch fascinating experiments that reveal how crows think, plan ahead, use tools, solve complex problems, and even recognize human faces.
Kragemanden.dk
My own Danish website, where I share encounters with wild crows, ravens and jackdaws — stories, videos, knowledge and personal experiences from many years spent close to these incredible birds.
Intelligence, Family & the Truth About Crows
If you’ve ever watched a crow solve a puzzle on YouTube,
you’ve only seen a tiny glimpse of their brilliance.
Research shows that the intelligence of corvids can rival that of a human child of up to seven years old —
higher than most dogs and even several primates.
Crows don’t just react.
They plan.
They think in steps, anticipate consequences, and use tools to reach their goals.
They can even work with humans when they understand that cooperation benefits both sides —
trading objects, solving tasks, or warning us about danger.
This isn’t instinct alone.
It’s reasoning.
It’s awareness behind black feathers and sharp, observant eyes —
an intelligence that deserves both respect and admiration.
Family Life
A crow’s nest usually holds four to six eggs.
The young become sexually mature at around two years of age —
but far from all of them get the chance to breed.
Only the strongest and most resourceful individuals secure a territory and raise young.
The rest form social groups — almost like extended families —
where they look after each other, share food, and defend the community.
I’ve seen it myself:
When one crow gets injured, the others call loudly, circle above,
or fly down with food for the wounded bird.
That kind of loyalty isn’t just instinct — it’s empathy.
Breaking the Myth
Sadly, crows have carried a bad reputation they never earned.
Many people fear or dislike them — old stories and superstition have painted them as omens of death, or thieves in the fields.
But once you truly see them, the myths fall apart.
Crows are not creatures of darkness.
They are guardians of nature — wild thinkers and survivors who live with us, not beneath us.
That’s why I created Kragemanden.dk:
To replace fear with fascination,
and hatred with understanding.
To show that corvids are not beings of shadow —
but creatures of light, intelligence and dignity,
who deserve our deepest respect.