Crow Talk
Today after fortifying the duck aviary, I went out to buy a cord so I can transfer videos from my phone to the computer. I just had to share videos of my crow friend talking with me.
In the first clip, my crow friend uses 2 of her 3 main vocalizations. The trill and the caw. It’s kind of hard to see, but the crow is sitting on the stair railing. O’Malley and Petunia are sitting on the lawn near the crow.
In the second clip after I ask the crow if s/he’s hungry, the crow uses my favorite vocalization, along with the trill. Crows make this “meh moo” sound to each other. I like it a lot.
This crow has been around for a few years, but it just started having full conversations with me about two months ago. I have been trying to catch our conversations on video ever since. I think it’s pretty special that the crow likes to hang out and chat with me and the ducks.
The crow is a pretty good conversationalist, don’t you think?
Meh moo and quacks.
7 Comments
We have two local crows here at home that vocalize with sounds similar to a cats. I believe them to be a parent and child from last year. I will “talk” to them to, imitating that “mwaw hoo” sound with the same cadence they do, it can go on quite a long time back and forth. I tried to record it only once and our pond fountain kinda drowned it out but I will try again and see if I can upload it. I am curious if it is the same call.
I love the conversation you’re having. Don’t you think it’s curious that this crow is making a vocalization that s/he makes only when talking other crows? Clearly you are one of the flock!
Cats do this too. Trilling is a vocalization used by mother cats to their kittens. If a cat trills to a human, it’s engaging in “baby talk.”
I hear that sound often where I live but never realized it was a crow. that is amazing. Now I’ll know and know more what to look for. I would always look around but couldn’t see a bird.
Tiff, you’re like the next Dian Fossey or Jane Goodall — learning the animals’ languages, communicating with them, living with them.
When they make the movie of your life, I will say, “I knew her back when she was just the Crazy Duck Lady.”
LOL
Dian Fossey is one of my heroes. And Jane Goodall is pretty darn cool, too.
Crows are extremely intelligent & they will repeat like a parrot. I had one repeat a ‘wolf whistle’ once.
If I can remember correctly- 3 or 4 caws= everything is ok, 5= everything is ok,(even though) humans here.
Hey Flapper, guess what? We have a catbird in our yard that tries to quack. It’s always hanging around, watching us. It’s kinda creepy now that we think of it. Hey, Catbird, beat it creep-o. And don’t let us catch you near our water clogs. Yeah, you better fly.
Ahhhh, that’s better!