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Crows: Benefits and Behavior Explained

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Maha A. Aziz
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27 views1 page

Crows: Benefits and Behavior Explained

Uploaded by

Maha A. Aziz
Copyright
© All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd

Nonfiction: Animals

Name _________________________ Date _________


Warm-Up 7

Crows can be a problem for farmers. They eat crops and bother farm workers. But they also
do things that help farmers. Crows eat weeds, grasshoppers, wireworms, and cutworms.
When crows eat these bugs and weeds, they help the farmer!
Crows are easy to spot. Most crows are black. Some are black with white, brown, or gray.
Crows have black beaks and black legs. They are usually between 8 and 12 inches (20 to
30 cm) long. Their wings are between 16 and 24 inches (40 to 60 cm) wide.
Crows can be friendly with other crows. Adults enjoy being together. In the fall, crows fly
south to warm weather. This is called migrating. When they migrate, they fly with many other
crows.
Crows build nests in trees, bushes, or on the tops of buildings. They make their nests by
weaving twigs together like a mat. Crows use roots, grasses, and bark from the trees to put
inside of the nest. This makes the nest soft for the baby crows.
The female crow lays between four and seven eggs. They are blue-green in color. The male
crow sits on the eggs. He helps to keep them warm until they hatch. When crows have
babies, they like to be alone. After the babies are older, the crows will mix with other crows
again.
How can you keep crows away from places? Some people make scarecrows to frighten them
away. The scarecrows are made to look like people. They blow in the wind to look like people
are moving. Scarecrows left to stand in one place will not work. The crows think of them as a
place to land or sit. Crows are quick-witted. They can tell when a trap has been set.
Some people dislike crows. Others like the black, shiny birds.

1. In the passage, migrate means . . .


a. flying to Florida. c. flying south for warm weather.
b. flying to Alaska. d. flying north for warm weather.
2. The words “quick-witted” could be changed to . . .
a. speedy flyers. c. fast thinkers.
b. slow thinkers. d. quick artists.
3. The author’s purpose for writing this passage is . . .
a. to persuade the reader to look at crows in a new way.
b. to inform the reader about building a nest.
c. to entertain the reader with jokes about crows.
d. to warn the reader about dangerous birds.
4. According to this passage, how do crows help farmers?
a. They are intelligent and quick-witted. c. They build large, bulky nests.
b. They know that scarecrows cannot harm them. d. They eat weeds and bugs.
©Teacher Created Resources, Inc. 15 #3489 Daily Warm-Ups: Reading

Common questions

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Scarecrows are stationary and do not effectively mimic the threat of human presence if left unchanged. Crows are intelligent enough to recognize that a stationary scarecrow is not harmful and may even use it as a perch, reducing its effectiveness as a deterrent .

While crows can be a nuisance by eating crops and bothering workers, they also have positive effects by eating weeds and pest insects like grasshoppers and wireworms. Farmers should weigh these positive impacts against the negatives when considering pest management strategies, possibly incorporating crows as natural pest control agents .

Crows' primarily black coloration, which can sometimes include shades of white, brown, or gray, might provide camouflage in certain environments, aiding in predator avoidance. Additionally, their size, with bodies ranging from 8 to 12 inches and wingspans of 16 to 24 inches, allows them considerable mobility and versatility in different habitats .

Crows are described as 'quick-witted,' which can be interpreted as being fast thinkers. They can discern that stationary scarecrows are not threats and might instead use them as perches, indicating their ability to learn and adapt to human-made deterrents .

Perceptions of crows vary; some people dislike them due to their attempts to eat crops and outwit traditional deterrents, while others appreciate their shiny black appearance and intelligent behavior. These views are likely influenced by personal experiences, ecological awareness, and cultural attitudes toward wildlife .

The author likely aims to provide a balanced perspective on crows, highlighting their role in pest control while acknowledging the issues they can cause. By presenting both sides, the author may encourage readers to reconsider their views on crows, understanding them as complex animals rather than mere nuisances .

While crows are generally social creatures that enjoy being with others, during nesting periods they prefer solitude. When they have babies, they keep to themselves until the young crows are older, at which point they rejoin their larger social groups .

Crows adapt to seasonal changes by migrating south to warmer climates in the fall. This behavior helps them avoid harsh winter conditions and find food more easily during colder months .

Crows weave twigs together to form a mat-like structure and use roots, grasses, and tree bark to create a soft lining for the nest. This construction not only provides structural support but also ensures a comfortable environment for the baby crows, increasing their likelihood of survival .

Crows help farmers by eating weeds, grasshoppers, wireworms, and cutworms. These actions assist in pest control and reduction of crop damage, which can have a positive impact on agricultural productivity .

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