Crows are among the world’s most intelligent animals.
Observation and research reveal that crows are capable of a number of unexpectedly complex behaviors. They play, use tools, recognize human faces, and give gifts. As we continue to learn about crow intelligence, the species’ exceptionality becomes more and more clear.
But can crows talk?
Yes! Crows have the ability to produce some human-like vocalizations that sound like words.
Let’s learn all about the vocal skills possessed by crows. We’ll cover:
- How do birds make sounds?
- What sounds do crows make?
- Can a crow vocalize human words?
- When might a crow learn to talk?
- What other birds can talk?
How Do Birds Make Sounds?
Birds and humans each possess complex and highly productive vocal systems.
Before we discuss speech mimicry in crows and other birds, let’s consider how humans and birds are able to make sounds.
In a nutshell, here are the advantages humans possess in the realm of voice skills:
- Long throat for producing volume and small mouth for shaping sounds
- Cognitive control over vocal chords
- Flexibility in the tongue, mouth, and lips
Like humans, birds have some special traits that enable their unique vocal skills, including the beautiful singing that some birds are capable of.
Here’s what birds have going for them:
- The syrinx, a special vocal organ unique to birds
- Control over the tension of throat membranes for changing pitch and volume
- Control over both sides of the trachea, producing the ability in some birds to sing two notes at once
Humans, mammals, reptiles, and amphibians have larynxes, located at the top of the throat. We use vibrations in folds of tissue (vocal chords) to produce sounds. Controlling those vibrations is how humans talk, how dogs bark, and how lions roar.
Birds have larynxes, too. Additionally, birds are the only animals with a syrinx, an organ located at the base of the windpipe (i.e the trachea).
The lower respiratory system is shaped like an upside-down slingshot. Where the trachea splits, birds have their voice box, the syrinx. Having control over this area of the vocal system, where a divide occurs, is what enables some birds to make two sounds at once.
When you watch a bird sing, you can see the vibrations occurring down near the chest.
Ever wonder how songbirds can sing so many notes in rapid succession? They may be switching back and forth from one side of the syrinx to the other.
Bird brains appear to have as much control over their vocal systems as we humans have over ours. Thus, bird sounds are rich and complex, with some species demonstrating spectacular control over sophisticated musical elements like pitch and timing.
For some birds, an incredible command over the vocal tract includes the ability to mimic human speech.
What Sounds Do Crows Make?
The corvid family, which includes crows, ravens, and jays, is within the order Passeriformes, also known as songbirds. Thus, crows are technically songbirds, just like robins and sparrows.
Unlike many of their passerine relatives, crow songs aren’t very melodic or pleasing to the human ear.
The trademark crow sound is, of course, the caw. Caws are typically described as harsh, loud, and grating.
Other sounds crows make include:
- Coos
- Clicks
- Rattles
- Growls
- Mimic sounds imitating environmental noises
If you listen to crows, you’ll mostly hear caws. However, you might catch the occasional interesting mimic sound. Like mockingbirds, crows sometimes try to imitate the songs of other bird species in their habitat.
Can a Crow Vocalize Human Words?
Compared to most songbirds, crows aren’t good singers. Their vocalizations are usually coarse and simple, lacking pleasant variations in pitch and timing.
However, crows can do something that sparrows, finches, and cardinals can’t do: they can talk.
Well, sort of. Crows have a very limited ability to produce calls that sound like human words. It’s a rare talent that’s typically only exhibited by crows living in captivity. When crows do talk, they can typically only command a few simple words.
Of course, the ability to talk at all is quite remarkable.
Not many crows are legally kept in captivity. In most places, it’s illegal to keep a crow as a pet.
Crows are extremely intelligent and tend to be very curious about people. But, they aren’t domestic animals. They aren’t bred to select for human-friendly traits and are rarely raised in captivity.
How Well Can Crows Talk?
It’s likely that we only get a glimpse of the potential speech mimicry abilities of crows. As wild animals, they aren’t incentivized to develop such a niche skill.
For crows that have developed the ability to talk, the most commonly learned word seems to be “hello.” Crows living in captivity have been known to imitate this word after hearing humans constantly greet them with it.
Talking in crows is a form of mimicry. Just as wild crows may learn to imitate the songs of other birds, captive crows sometimes begin to imitate “the songs of humans,” i.e., speech.
Crows may learn a few words beyond “hello”, but are not known to develop long word lists in the manner that parrots do. Nor do crows usually pronounce words as clearly as parrots can.
However, occasionally, a special crow learns to speak with astonishing clarity.
Want to hear what a talking crow sounds like?
Check out Jimini the Talking Crow on YouTube. Jimini belongs to a wildlife rehabilitator. He learned to speak after observing his keeper conversing with a parrot. His incredible vocal control proves that given the chance, crows are among the world’s best non-human talkers.
When Might a Crow Learn to Talk?
While crows do possess an impressive capacity to mimic human speech, it’s rare to come across a talking crow. The skill is typically only developed in captivity, and it’s illegal to keep a pet crow.
Crows only legally end up in captivity in zoos or in wildlife rescue centers. In these settings, a crow may become comfortable around humans and be frequently exposed to human speech. In these situations, crows sometimes learn to say a few words.
Crows in captivity that have learned to pronounce human words may appear to enjoy the act as a form of play, or may simply seem to have picked it up as a form of mimic calling.
What Other Birds Can Talk?
Crows might be the smartest birds around, but they aren’t the champions when it comes to mimicking human speech.
The most talented avian talkers are the budgerigars, commonly known as common parakeets or “budgies.” Budgies are members of the Psittaciformes order, i.e., parrots.
Talking crows are typically only able to produce a few short words, phrases, or sounds. Budgies, on the other hand, can amass enormous vocabularies.
The Guinness World Record holder for the largest vocabulary by a bird is held by a budgie named Puck, who could say 1,728 different words.
Of the other bird species that are known to learn a bit of human speech, most are parrots, including Amazon parrots, grey parrots, cockatoos, and various types of parakeets.
Besides crows, some other Passeriformes (songbirds) occasionally mimic human speech. These include mockingbirds, canaries, starlings, and Australian magpies.
While many birds have learned to make human-like sounds, it’s generally believed that the behavior is pure mimicry, with no cognitive understanding of the meanings that humans associate with words.
Learn More About Crows
Speech mimicry is just one of the many amazing characteristics of crows. Among birds, crows aren’t the best of the best when it comes to talking. However, it’s remarkable that the behavior is displayed at all, given how few crows are living in captivity.
Crows are brilliant, fascinating birds. To learn more about the world’s smartest birds, check out our other crow articles:
James has always been an avid outdoorsman. Since a kid, he kept a journal of all the different birds and species he saw. Now he wants to share his passion with other birders with Happy Birding!
