what do crows like to eat
Crows are omnivores and like to eat a wide mix of plants, animals, and human scraps, with a strong preference for high‑energy, high‑protein foods like nuts, insects, small animals, and eggs.
Quick Scoop: What Do Crows Like to Eat?
Their favorite “crow cuisine”
Crows aren’t picky, but some foods clearly rank as favorites.
- Nuts (especially peanuts, walnuts, almonds, pistachios).
- Seeds and grains (corn, wheat, oats, other cereals).
- Fruits and berries (grapes, apples, cherries, elderberries, blueberries).
- Insects and larvae (beetles, grasshoppers, caterpillars, worms).
- Meat and carrion (meat scraps, roadkill, small dead animals).
- Eggs and nestlings of other birds when they get the chance.
- Small creatures like mice, moles, frogs, salamanders, lizards, small snakes, mollusks, and small fish.
- Human food waste: leftovers, dumpster finds, fast‑food scraps, and pet food.
They’re opportunistic , so they’ll take whatever is easiest and safest to grab in that moment.
Wild diet vs. “urban” diet
In the wild, more of their diet comes from natural sources.
- Wild insects and larvae.
- Wild fruits, seeds, and berries.
- Small animals, reptiles, amphibians, and fish.
In cities and suburbs, they lean heavily into human‑provided food.
- Street and fast‑food scraps.
- Backyard compost and bins.
- Pet food and spilled grain or livestock feed.
This flexible diet is a big reason crows thrive almost everywhere people live today.
If you’re thinking of feeding crows
People online constantly trade tips and “crow friendship” stories, and a few foods get recommended again and again as both attractive and relatively safe.
Often‑recommended options:
- Unsalted peanuts (in or out of the shell).
- Other unsalted nuts and seeds.
- Small portions of cooked meat or fish (unseasoned).
- Hard‑boiled or cooked eggs.
- Fruits like grapes, apple slices, and berries.
- Plain dry cat or dog kibble in moderation.
Common cautions:
- Avoid salty, heavily seasoned, moldy, or processed junk food.
- Don’t overfeed so they don’t become dependent or a neighborhood nuisance.
- Offer fresh water; crows are often seen dunking hard or dry food in water to soften it.
A typical forum‑style tip goes something like:
“Start with a regular time and place, toss a few unsalted peanuts or kibble, then back away and let them decide if they trust you. Over time, they’ll remember your face.”
Mini table: Crow favorites
| Food type | Examples | Why they like it |
|---|---|---|
| Nuts & seeds | Peanuts, walnuts, corn, oats | [7][9][1][5]High energy, easy to store and carry | [9][1][7]
| Fruits & berries | Grapes, apples, cherries, berries | [3][1][5][7][9]Sweet taste, vitamins and hydration | [3][7][9]
| Insects & small animals | Beetles, worms, mice, frogs, lizards | [1][5][7][9]Protein‑rich, fuels active, intelligent behavior | [7][9][1]
| Eggs & nestlings | Other birds’ eggs and chicks | [9][1][7]High‑value, nutrient‑dense food source | [9]
| Human leftovers | Pet food, meat scraps, fast‑food bits | [5][1][7][9]Abundant, easy calories near people | [1][7][9]
TL;DR
Crows like to eat almost anything, but they especially go for nuts, grains, fruit, insects, small animals, eggs, and convenient human leftovers, adjusting their menu to whatever their local environment and the current season offer.
Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.