Crow "Mating Display"! (ground shot)

Crows show some sort of mating display... or dominance posturing.

© 2007 Zach Glenwright

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[oonaboona]

They look like raven to me, not crows. And the wiping of the beaks on things is a sign of discomfort or embarrassment!

[taburineagle]

@oonaboona - They're definitely crows, I've got quite a few closeup shots of them (also, ravens don't typically live near here, so a pair being around is less likely) The wiping of the beaks on things is called "feaking", and they use it to clean their beaks off (usually after eating prey) - hawks (and other raptors) do that also, it's not really a discomfort thing, it's just how they "preen" that part of their body.

[zlemonn]

Yeah, I'm doing a college assignment on carrion crow behaviour, and I can back you up on that one - they are definately crows! the head bobbing suggests courtship behaviour :)

[taburineagle]

@zlemonn - Thank you!

[scrubjay93]

Wow, that was very cool! I watch crows all the time, but have never seen this particular behavior. It seemed like a "pair-bonding" type ritualistic behavior. They are obviously a pair, and I believe many pairs remain together until one dies.

[taburineagle]

Thank you! These 2 crows were definitely a pair, where one was, the other one was usually close behind. I *hear* crows quite often, but very rarely get this kind of opportunity to see them like this!

[JackofEvil]

So, which one is male and which one is female? Or I'd rather ask, how do they tell the difference? Mother Nature sure is mysterious.

[jamielleman13021]

if you want to see crows come to auburn ny during fall and winter when they roost here. lots of them. you can google auburn ny and crows and get an amount.

[sockman071988]

that's why there are so many big black birds today....to make the babies.

[haluakhan]

crow porn.....................fuck

[SlimeTron5000]

They look slightly different to our endemic Australian raven.

[SexyTwilight11]

not