The Crow Family (Corvidae) includes a large group of Birds besides Crows and their Brother Ravens. Also belonging to the Crow Family are Choughs, Jays, Magpies, and Nutcrackers. What do all these Birds have in common? They are curious, intelligent, noisy, outrageous, and social.
Throughout the ages, people have either loved or hated members of the Crow Family, but they have never ignored Them. People gave distinctive names for groups of these Birds: a murder of Crows, an unkindness of Ravens, a tidings of Magpies, a chattering of Choughs, and a scold of Jays. Having a property with a Parliament of Rooks living there is considered to be very fortunate. Raven lore ranges from North American beliefs of Raven as the Trickster to the Norse Raven companions of Odin. Furthermore, many people believe as long as Ravens live at the Tower of London, the Crown of England shall be safe. Beliefs involving other members are: Magpies steal, Crows foretell death, and Jays bring bad luck.
What are these Birds that grab people’s attention? The most familiar group is Crows and Ravens, who are also the most widespread of the Corvids. These sooty black Birds are noted for their quick-wittedness. Crows and Ravens use their intelligence to good use in finding food.
In their glossy all-black plumage, Choughs resemble Crows. You find Them living on cliffs or in mountains of Eurasia. Unlike the black-beaked Crow, Chough has either a yellow or scarlet bill.
Meanwhile, Jays are considered to be the most primitive of the Corvids. As the oldest of Corvids, They originated in Eurasia and spread throughout the New World. Jays are noted for their colorfulness, with Many having blue or green plumage.
Magpies and Treepies are highly social Birds. These black and white Birds are well known for their chatter. Part of Magpie’s name comes from Mag, which is Old English for “chatterer”. Regarded as thieves, Magpies like bright shiny things, which They take and hide.
Nutcrackers, who live in pine forests, are remarkable for the extent of their dependence on cached stores of seeds. Permanent residents of forests, They do not migrate but live through hard winters on their saved food. Called Nutcrackers, They eat mainly hazel nuts and pine seeds.
Members of the Crow Family save for the future. They store food to help Them through hard times. Before beginning to eat, Corvids will take the trouble to hide a large quantity of food. They carry the food in their throats until They find a hole to hide the food in. Corvids memorize where they hid their food and return to their stores when They need to.
We can learn from the Crow Family how to refrain from consuming everything in sight. Learn the discipline to save some for the future when lean times arrive. If we have discipline and fortitude like the Crow Family, our hidden stores will be there for us during hard times.
Crow Family’s Teachings Include:
“Crows have a strong sense of loyalty and have the ability to turn thoughts into reality. Taking time to look within and gain inner strength helps make those important decisions without hesitation. Crows may have the appearance of not having courage and strength, but discerns quite well situations that may be dangerous. Crows often have difficulty in making choices, however, when those choices are made they act with vigilance.” Copyright: Unknown.
“The Raven and Crow are always good signs, but they have distinct, often multiple messages and meanings. Both birds are good-luck signs of protection and messengers of wealth.” Copyright: “Spirits of the Earth”, Bobby Lake-Thom.
Take time to read what the Individual Crow Teachers have to teach.
Purchase books about individual members of the crow families from Amazon.com
GO TO: Individual Crow Teacher's Page
Australian Magpies are not members of the Crow Family. They are relatives of Butcherbirds and Currawongs.
Alpine Choughs Photo copyrighted by Hr. Lienhard, Visipix.com
Photos of Raven and Clark's Nutcracker courtesy of U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
Picture of Western Blue Jay copyrighted by Mary Ann Sterling
Va. Carper
August 22, 2005