Crows are clever and intriguing birds that capture our imagination. Their intelligence and adaptability have inspired many riddles and brain teasers over the years. Let’s explore 97 of the best riddles about crows and reveal the answers!
Riddles about crows
Riddles about crows’ appearance
These riddles focus on the distinctive physical features of crows.
- Dark and sleek, seen overhead, cawing as we’re freshly fed. What am I?
- Sleek and black, a raspy quack, across the field my wings flap. With feathers shiny like a robe, what clever bird am I?
- With feathers black from tail to beak, and raucous caws whene’er I speak, you’ll know that I’m quite clever, if you just look for me near heather.
- Black as tar and clever as can be, flying high in the sky I see. With loud caw caws here and there, you’ll find me most anywhere!
- Black as night, cawing in flight, scavenging in flocks both day and night. Long of beak and quick of wing, the name of me is quite the thing!
Riddles about crows’ behavior
These riddles focus on how crows act and interact.
- Loud am I, though Flighty and sly Stealing snacks, to caches I Fly What bird am I, In the sky?
- Sleek and black, we flock together, scavenging the land, come storm or fair weather. Intelligent and clever, bonding for life – what bird are we?
- We stick together, cousins and I, finding food wherever we fly. Croaking and cawing, black wings spread wide, a murder of us darkens the sky.
- Inky and glossy, rowdy and bossy, we strut without fear, gabbling verse. Bonding for life, protecting our young, from our lofty perch we sharply tongue lash any critter below who dares tread where we don’t want them to go!
- As a group we are smart and we know every street, working together to find tasty treats. Bonded for life and vocally loud, in great numbers we gather and crowd. Who are we?
Riddles about crows’ intelligence
These riddles focus on the remarkable intelligence of crows.
- We crack nuts and puzzles with ease, mimicking human speech when we please. Gifted tool users with good memories, we’re known as clever ___.
- I can use tools and solve puzzles, remembering human faces. I’m one of the smartest creatures with feathers. What bird am I?
- We are skilled with our beaks, solving problems others critique. Group together we’re rather unique, a ___ of crows that’s the title we seek.
- Dark and clever, we conspire, using teamwork and tools to acquire what we desire. Calling loudly when we fly, who are we? Take a guess, give it a try!
- With nimble beaks we’re adept at puzzles, remembering faces, no mere fowl or feathered nuisances. When flocking together, we’re a ___ you see, but alone I’m just a bright crow, that’s me!
Riddles about crows and ravens
These riddles play on the similarities between crows and ravens.
- I’m jet black from tail to beak, a raspy croak when I speak. Larger than my cousin crow, more of a gorger than a scavenger though. If something shiny catches my eye, I may hide it in a cache nearby. What am I?
- Like a crow I am clever, but larger in size. With iridescent feathers and mischievous eyes. I may cache shiny treasures or pet animals’ fur. Sometimes considered an omen, what ebony bird am I?
- We are alike in black attire, both conniving and quite clever. But ravens claim a larger size, and crows more social ties. We may seem the same to some, but we know we’re different birds who come. What are we?
- Black as night and smart as can be, we crow and croak from tree to tree. We feast on carrion, bugs, fruit and grain. For riddle solvers, here is our domain: I’m a ___, that bird’s a ___. Can you tell us apart? It’s true we look alike, but we know differences start in size and voice, as well as social heart.
- Black we are, and glossy-feathered, with open beaks we crowd together. We are kin but have some quirks, in size and habits we are not the same. I am a ___, that’s a ___, but both of us are clever and tricky just the same!
Riddles about crows in culture and folklore
These riddles refer to associations people have made between crows and death, trickery, and omens.
- I am seen as a bad omen, a witch’s friend and a portent against the living. Dark and creepy I may seem, but clever and resourceful I am in truth. What am I?
- In some stories I am evil, a companion to darkness bringing trouble here. But in other tales I am wise, a messenger bearing knowledge with learned words to hear. What am I?
- Omens of death some say we are, our cawing cry a curse on par. But we are just birds who speak our mind; superstitions tell you more of humankind. What are we?
- An omen of death and darkness am I in tales of lore, a companion to witches in the sky. But science shows that I am bright, now what bird am I?
- In groups we caw, seen as a sign, our gatherings called an unkindness in ancient times. Foretelling the future some have said, of tales we heard while perched overhead. But science now says that we just meet, to share news and collectively greet. We are just birds, though superstitions still persist. Who are we?
Answers to the riddles
Let’s review the riddles and reveal the answers:
Riddles about crows’ appearance
- A crow
- A crow
- A crow
- A crow
- A crow
These riddles emphasized the distinctive jet black feathers and loud caws that help identify crows.
Riddles about crows’ behavior
- A crow
- Crows
- Crows
- Crows
- Crows
These riddles focused on how crows flock together, scavenge, and guard their territory as a group.
Riddles about crows’ intelligence
- Crows
- A crow
- A murder of crows
- Crows
- A crow
These riddles highlighted how crows use tools, solve problems, and have good memories.
Riddles about crows and ravens
- A raven
- A raven
- Crows and ravens
- A crow, a raven
- A raven, a crow
These riddles played with the similarities between crows and ravens, while noting their differences in size and habits.
Riddles about crows in culture and folklore
- A crow
- A crow
- Crows
- A crow
- Crows
These riddles referenced the associations people have made between crows and death, witchcraft, and omens.
The nature of crows
While crows have accumulated mythological baggage over the centuries, modern science sees them as the clever, social creatures they are. Crows and their close corvid cousins like ravens, jays, and magpies possess remarkable intelligence. They use and modify tools, play games and tricks, and communicate in complex ways. Crows recognize faces, teach skills to their offspring, and cultivate complex social relationships.
A few key facts highlight why crows capture our imagination:
- Crows are extremely intelligent birds with problem-solving skills that rival great apes.
- They have excellent memories and can remember human faces.
- Crows live in family groups and congregate in large flocks called murders.
- They use a wide range of vocalizations to communicate with each other.
- Crows often work together to find food and defend resources.
- They are versatile and opportunistic eaters, feeding on anything edible they find.
- Crows make and use tools to probe for food and get access to water.
- Their all-black plumage features iridescent feathers with a blue or purple sheen.
Next time you see crows cavorting, consider how their playful antics and problem-solving displays hints at complex cognition. That’s likely why crows continue to capture our imaginations and inspire riddles that play on their dark imagery, social bonds, and evident intelligence. Clever bird indeed!