What Is a Group Of Crows Called?

First things first: No, don’t be afraid of crows. Collective nouns emerged during medieval times when they were poetic and colorful in nature.

Did you know that crows are considered to be some of the most intelligent animals in the world?

However, their intelligence is often overlooked. This is because people tend to be unnerved by these birds because of their black feathers, their association with death, and what they’re called when they’re together in a group.

A group of crows is called a murder which is a little scary. However, research has shown that crows are actually very caring and social creatures.

Why Is a Group of Crows Called a Murder?

A group of crows is called a “murder“. There are many different accounts for where this term came from, most of those being based on superstitions and folk tales. For example, there is an old story that crows will come together so they can decide the destiny of another crow.

American Crow © Alan D. Wilson

Many associate crows with death due to their black feathers and them being scavengers. They are also associated with battlefields, cemeteries, and dead bodies. People also think they circle in large numbers above sites where people or animals are going to die soon.

Collective nouns emerged during medieval times when they were poetic and colorful in nature. Collective nouns are usually complementary, since they were given based on group perceived qualities. For example, the term “murder” was given to crows based on how they were perceived at the time.

Other Expressions

Crows are very social birds with strong family bonds. They roost together in large numbers, sometimes in the thousands.

While a lot of people call a group of birds a flock, crows have been known by a number of terms.

The most popular term for a group of crows is a murder, but a group of crows can also be called a mob, horde, parcel, or muster.

American Crow

No set number of birds is needed to call a group a flock. It depends on the birds social behavior in the group. Since crows naturally congregate in large groups, just a few of them together would not usually be called murder.

This is because they are likely to gather into even larger groups. When a flock or large group of crows gather together, they’re known by the poetic term, a murder of crows.

Why Do Crows All Gather Together?

There are several reasons why crows gather together; research suggests that big groups of crows provide many benefits. Let’s go over why crows gather together and what purpose it serves them. Firstly, when crows roost together, they’re provided safety due to the sheer number of them.

For those who don’t know what roost means, it’s the gathering of a large number of birds to sleep with one another at night. Crows usually roost in trees that are strong enough to hold a large number of birds.

Fish Crow. Photograph © Greg Lavaty.

Next, gathering in big groups helps the crows keep warm. Sleeping close to one another makes it easier to fight off the cold. Sleeping together also provides protection against predators. Eagles, Peregrine Falcons, Great Horned Owls, and Red-Tailed Hawks are all raptors that will go after crows. Roosting together discourages attacks by these predators.

Lastly, crows gathering in big numbers help them find sources of food more efficiently by using the shared knowledge of the group.

To sum everything up, roosting in large numbers provides safety, better access to food sources, and heat during the winter months.

Frequently Asked Questions

What does it mean when hundreds of crows gather?

When hundreds of crows gather together, it’s for a reason. Hundreds of crows will gather together if they’re roosting, grieving, needing to stay warm, feeling in danger, or traveling.

What does it mean when you see a flock of crows?

Contrary to popular belief, crows are actually viewed as good omens when it comes to spiritual symbolism. Crows are believed to represent positive meanings like destiny, intelligence, transformation, mystery, fearlessness, and adaptability.

However, as stated in the last question, crows also gather together for multiple benefits. For example, they gather if they’re roosting, grieving, need to stay warm, feel they’re in danger, or are traveling.

Conclusion

A group of crows is called a murder due to collective nouns being popular during medieval times.

Collective nouns are usually complementary, but the term “murder” was given to crows based on how they were perceived. Crows are omnivores who are known for scavenging. They’ll eat almost anything. Historically, they would appear after disasters, in cemeteries, and on battlefields to snack on the carrion that was left behind.

Their association with death led people to believe crows foreshadowed disaster. Although these birds are misunderstood, they are very social birds with strong family bonds and are highly intelligent. So next time you see a crow, take some time to observe them to see how remarkable these birds genuinely are!