What Eats Crows?

Crows are large and highly intelligent birds that eat a wide variety of foods including many other animals. So, what eats crows? Here are the most common crow predators and what you’ll want to know about them.

Birds Of Prey

The birds of prey are a group of predatory birds that are known for their sharp claws known as “talons”. And they use their talons, and powerful feet to catch and even kill their prey. While not all birds of prey are natural predators of crows several of them are.

Eagles, hawks, falcons, and owls are all known to eat crows, their young, and eggs. And more specifically red-tailed hawks and great-horned owls are common predators of adult crows. Unlike other birds of prey vultures are not equipped to catch and kill crows, as they are scavengers. However, they do eat dead crows.

Raccoons

Raccoons are opportunistic omnivores which means they eat just about everything. They regularly consume the eggs and young of any birds they happen to come across including crows. While it doesn’t happen often, raccoons can and will eat adult crows if there is an opportunity for them to catch and kill one.

Cats

Both feral cats and house cats are major threats to birds. In fact, in the U.S. it’s estimated that combined they kill up to 4 billion birds per year and that, of course, includes many crows. And while cats are natural hunters, they are a non-native species which is of course highly detrimental to native bird populations.

To help prevent house cats from killing and eating crows along with other birds many cat owners refrain from letting their cats go outside in the early morning and evening hours when birds are most vulnerable. Placing a bell on your cat’s collar can also help to reduce their chances of being able to catch birds successfully as the noise will warn the birds that the cat is approaching.

Squirrels

As anyone who has a bird feeder knows squirrels are highly skilled climbers that are capable of acrobatic feats when they find food. And as opportunistic omnivores squirrels will eat crow eggs or baby birds if they have a chance. Many people are surprised to find out that squirrels also sometimes scavenge and that includes eating dead birds of all kinds.

Chipmunks

While they spend the majority of their time on the ground and live in underground burrows, chipmunks are excellent climbers. And don’t be fooled by their adorable looks, like their cousin the squirrel these little guys are major predators of bird eggs and nestlings.

Snakes

Many different species of snakes eat crows. And snakes are a threat both in the trees and on the ground. However, because adult crows are big birds they aren’t commonly preyed on by the majority of snake species.

That requires larger-bodied and more powerful snakes such as kingsnakes for example. However many tree-climbing snakes are a threat to their eggs and young. Rat snakes, corn snakes, and fox snakes are excellent tree climbers and notorious raiders of birds’ nests. In fact, rat snakes are the leading predator of bird nests in many areas of North America.

Opossums

About the size of a large house cat, opossums are the only marsupial in North America which means they carry their young in a pouch. These unique-looking creatures also have a prehensile tail which is used to grip and balance when climbing. Opossums will eat just about anything including bird eggs and young birds.

Large Predators

There are a handful of large terrestrial predators that can and will take advantage of an opportunity to catch, kill, and eat crows. This includes wolves, coyotes, foxes, lynxes, and bobcats. And while it doesn’t happen often when it does it usually occurs when crows are scavenging on the ground and temporarily unaware of their surroundings.

Interestingly humans which are one of the greatest enemies of crows and probably their biggest threat as we kill large numbers of them each year, don’t typically eat crows. That’s because crow meat is considered to be tough, stringy, dry, and overall distasteful.

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