Crows are omnivorous and highly adaptable birds with a very diverse diet that includes both plant and animal matter. Their diet varies by season, location, and food availability, but generally includes:
- Plant-based foods: Seeds, grains (such as corn, wheat, oats), nuts (pecans, pistachios, acorns), and a wide variety of fruits and berries like grapes, chokecherries, watermelons, dogwood fruits, and bittersweet nightshade berries. These plant foods make up about 70% or more of their diet on average
- Animal-based foods: Insects (beetles, worms, caterpillars, larvae), small animals (mice, moles, lizards, small snakes, frogs, salamanders), bird eggs, baby birds, small fish, and carrion (dead animals found on roadsides or elsewhere). They also scavenge food scraps from humans, including leftovers and garbage
- Other: They may eat garden vegetable crops and are known for their opportunistic feeding habits, often taking advantage of whatever food sources are available in their environment, including urban areas
In summary, crows eat nearly everything edible, with a strong preference for plant matter but also a significant intake of animal protein, making them versatile feeders capable of thriving in diverse habitats
