Crows are extremely intelligent passerines of the genus Corvus and their equally brilliant cousins, the raven, rook, and jackdaw. There are many species of crow and they are distributed throughout the world. Generally, crows are robust, black passerines with minor color variations, including species with brown heads and white chests. The United States is home to four crow species, the classic all-black American crow (Corvus brachyrhynchos), which can be found throughout the United States and into Canada, the fish crow (Corvus ossifragus) located along the east coast and the Gulf of Mexico, the northwestern crow (Corvus caurinus), and the desert-dwelling Tamaulipas crow (Corvus imparatus). However, the most common species is the American crow.
Crows are not exclusively attracted to any one plant, but they will visit areas with food or ideal nesting sites. Other passerines will also be attracted to food sources or nesting sites, so strategically attracting only crows to a property may be difficult, if not impossible.
1) Fruit trees
Fruit trees provide delicious fruits and a place for crows to roost and nest. Members of the Rosaceae family, including various stone fruits like apples (Malus domestica), pears (Pyrus communis), cherries (Prunus avium), and plums (Prunus domestica) are sometimes popular hubs for groups of crows, especially during the fruiting season or nesting season.
Most stone fruits prefer acidic soils that allow them to access the nutrients in the ground. Established trees should be pruned annually before the warmer weather starts the growing season, and soon after, flowers will follow. Fruit will begin to appear in the mid to late summer. To protect the fruit from crows, gardeners can use nettings that keep birds from accessing the fruit.
2) Sunflowers (Helianthus spp.)
The primary ingredient in birdseed is black oil sunflower seeds, so it is no surprise that they are a favorite of many passerine birds, including crows. As birdseed, black oil sunflower seeds are easy to come by, but they can also be grown in the garden relatively quickly. First, start sunflowers indoors about 2 – 3 weeks before the last frost day. Then, transplant them outside after the threat of frost has passed, as they are not frost resistant. Ensure enough spacing between the seedlings, about 12 to 24 inches (30 to 61 cm), depending on variety, and keep them well-fertilized. They must be planted in early spring for good seed production, as hot summer temperatures may prevent seed development and lead to empty hulls.
3) Corn (Zea mays)
Another primary ingredient of birdseed is corn, or, more specifically, cracked corn. While there are several corn cultivars, the variety used to make cracked corn is known as dent corn which produces yellow seeds with a characteristic dent. Corn should be started early in the growing season and planted in an area with full sun and fertile, slightly acidic (pH 6.5) soil. Seedlings are generally spaced 12 inches (30 cm) apart. Mature plants will produce harvestable corn in 75 to 85 days, although the time to maturity may vary by variety.
4) Peanuts (Arachis hypogaea)
Crows love walnuts, almonds, pecans, and peanuts. While large nut trees might be difficult for most homeowners to maintain and harvest. One significant barrier for most homeowners to almonds is the need for honeybees to pollinate the almond flower. An entire industry is devoted to shipping bees between almonds, apples, and grain crops. The easiest nut species for a homeowner to grow are peanuts, and crows love them!
Peanuts thrive in hardiness zones 8 – 12 in the southern United States, requiring consistent, warm temperatures and a long growing season. In addition to producing delicious nuts, the peanut plant is a nitrogen-fixing legume that can convert atmospheric nitrogen into bioavailable nitrogen. Crows love peanuts but may be unable to dig them out of the soil themselves. To attract crows to the yard, it’s best to provide bird-safe peanuts in a feeder or on the ground.
5) Rosaceae berries – blackberries & raspberries (Rubus spp.)
There is an incredible amount of variety in the Rosaceae family. Stone fruits, like apples, plums, and cherries, are found in this family, and so are aggregate berries like blackberries (Rubus armeniacus) and raspberries (Rubus idaeus). These types of fruits are collectively known as drupes. In the wild, aggregate berries are natural forage for passerine birds, crows included.
There are many varieties of blackberries and raspberries. Like most other fruiting plants, these aggregate berries require full sun and well-draining soil to thrive and produce an abundant crop. They also enjoy acidic soil, allowing the plants to access nutrients. Some varieties possess thorns that may injure gardeners, so care should be taken to avoid accidental injury with these plants. Alternatively, thornless varieties can be planted.
6) Evergreen trees
Evergreens are a broad group of trees that have leaves or needles year-round. Some examples of evergreens include cedars (Cedrus spp.), pines (Pinus spp.), some oaks (Quercus spp.), firs (Abies spp.), and more. Crows preferentially use evergreen trees as nesting sites during the spring and summer. They typically mate for life and raise one clutch of eggs yearly. During this period, males and females jointly care for their young until they fledge and leave the nest. Evergreen trees are the perfect structure for crow nests, given their sturdy branches and ability to provide sufficient cover year-round. Outside the breeding season, crows will spend their time roosting in evergreen trees.
