It also helps to explain why crows choose sleeping locations in urban environments, as the artificial streetlight likely provides further protection by helping them see danger more easily. Sleeping in large groups means there are more crows to help out and provide flock safety if something happens at night. However as nighttime approaches, crows lose their ability to see in the dark which leaves them more vulnerable to nocturnal predators like owls. This is why when you see groups of crows all suddenly start cawing & going crazy during the daytime, it’s very often because they’re reacting to a predator. The simplest and most common explanation for why crows get together in such massive groups is for safety from predators.Ĭrows do have lots of dangerous predators like owls, hawks & eagles.ĭuring the daytime, crows are extremely skillful at scolding and chasing these dangers away (A behavior we’ve discussed in another article on crow language).
Here’s what we know so far… Safety In Numbers There are actually multiple reasons why crows do this, and researchers are still working to piece together the complete story. Wave after wave of crows will swarm together in tree tops, on the roofs of buildings, or on the ground until there are thousands of crows all gathered in one place, before finally moving into their nightly roost location to sleep.īird watchers have marveled at these massive gatherings of crows at dawn & dusk for hundreds of years and speculated about why they form such large groups. So if you’ve ever seen this massive influx of noisy black corvids, you might have wondered… Why do crows gather like this?Ĭrows are communal sleepers, so they gather in massive groups to roost together at night.Īs the sun begins to set, crows will fly in from long distances to a central location where they can share warmth, safety from predators, and even exchange information relevant for survival. These flocks can grow to as many as hundreds or even thousands of crows, which really makes them stand out in the environment. One of the most striking displays of crow behavior is when crows gather together in massive groups at the end of the day. Woa, look at all those crazy crows! Why are they swarming like that?
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