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Crows: Encounters with the Wise Guys of the Avian World
This revised and expanded edition of Candace Savage’s best-selling book about ravens and crows is enhanced by additional paintings, drawings, and photos, as well as a fascinating selection of first-person stories and poems about remarkable encounters with crows. In one story, a pack of crows brilliantly thwarts an attack by a Golden Eagle; in another, a mischievous crow rescues the author from grief. And in a third piece, after nursing a battered baby crow back to health until it flies off with other crows, Louise Erdrich hauntingly describes her altered awareness as she listens for the “dark laugh” of crows while she works.
Based on two decades of audacious research by scientists around the world, the book also provides an unprecedented, evidence-based glimpse into corvids’ intellectual, social, and emotional lives. But whether viewed through the lens of science, myth, or everyday experience, the result is always the same. These birds are so smart—and so mysterious—they take your breath away.
Based on two decades of audacious research by scientists around the world, the book also provides an unprecedented, evidence-based glimpse into corvids’ intellectual, social, and emotional lives. But whether viewed through the lens of science, myth, or everyday experience, the result is always the same. These birds are so smart—and so mysterious—they take your breath away.
136 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2005
363 people are currently reading
1164 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 152 reviews
May 1, 2023
I’ll read any book on crows and ravens. Their rascally nature appeals to me. This book is especially nice as pop science however. The style is entertaining without being cutesy or too anthropomorphic. The author dives into myth, science, and art seamlessly.
From Aesop and even older cultures, to Tlingit tales to modern experiences with Corvids, this covers a lot in a smallish book. The science comes across as practical. Ravens can be distinguished from crows not only by their larger size but by their diamond shaped tales (crows have fan shaped tails). It has never been very helpful to me to hear that ravens are bigger than crows (24 to 27” as opposed to 12 to 20”). Unless they are standing next to each other, which doesn’t usually happen, inches is hard to determine when a bird is in flight.. Savage has lots of other practical information.
I love Aesop’s fable where a crow can’t reach the water in a jar but comes up with the idea of dropping one rock at a time in the jar to raise the water level so that it can drink. Savage tells the story of modern researchers who gave captive crows a jar of water and a pile of stones. Some of the crows repeated the story of Aesop’s crow. In fact one individual could do the whole thing one better. It deliberately chose the largest stones first in order to bring the water level up more quickly. If you enjoy clever Corvids you’ll like this book.
From Aesop and even older cultures, to Tlingit tales to modern experiences with Corvids, this covers a lot in a smallish book. The science comes across as practical. Ravens can be distinguished from crows not only by their larger size but by their diamond shaped tales (crows have fan shaped tails). It has never been very helpful to me to hear that ravens are bigger than crows (24 to 27” as opposed to 12 to 20”). Unless they are standing next to each other, which doesn’t usually happen, inches is hard to determine when a bird is in flight.. Savage has lots of other practical information.
I love Aesop’s fable where a crow can’t reach the water in a jar but comes up with the idea of dropping one rock at a time in the jar to raise the water level so that it can drink. Savage tells the story of modern researchers who gave captive crows a jar of water and a pile of stones. Some of the crows repeated the story of Aesop’s crow. In fact one individual could do the whole thing one better. It deliberately chose the largest stones first in order to bring the water level up more quickly. If you enjoy clever Corvids you’ll like this book.
September 17, 2021
Fascinating anecdotes about this bird species…actually including crows, ravens, rooks, jackdaws, etc. Intelligence and how crows rate is the theme of this book. There are plenty of facets to explore and Savage does better with some than others.
"…. so far as anyone knows, neither arachnid nor insect nor mollusk ponders deeply before it responds, weighing the options and considering pros and cons."
I found myself drawn into her “world.”
"To live long and prosper, a social animal needs a full array of mental defenses, including the capacity to recognize, remember, anticipate, analyze, and think strategically. Accordingly, most scientists now believe that higher intelligence likely arose in intensely sociable species where individuals could gain an evolutionary upper hand through their interactions with one another."
Some of the comparisons were strained or unnecessary: "…. so far as anyone knows, neither arachnid nor insect nor mollusk ponders deeply before it responds, weighing the options and considering pros and cons."
There is speculations:
"To live long and prosper, a social animal needs a full array of mental defenses, including the capacity to recognize, remember, anticipate, analyze, and think strategically. Accordingly, most scientists now believe that higher intelligence likely arose in intensely sociable species where individuals could gain an evolutionary upper hand through their interactions with one another."
And a lot that is unexplained. For instance why are some crows (of the same species) cooperative breeders and some not?
"In general, cooperative breeding occurs when young birds delay dispersal (and thereby forgo the opportunity to mate and produce young of their own) in favor of remaining with their parents and helping out around home. And this eccentric behavior is not restricted to exotic South Sea islands; it can also be observed in backyards and parks in many parts of Canada and the United States. Thanks largely to the Herculean efforts of Caffrey, McGowan, and their co-workers over the past dozen years, we now know that cooperative breeding is common—though not universal—among American crows."
I see crows demonstrating some of these “intelligent” behaviors almost every day. And Savage helps to fill in many of the gaps in my observations. That she writes entertainingly is a plus, but you may find that there is a lot of history and literature “filler” that is extraneous to your needs. My biggest disappointment is the gap between what (according to Savage) we know and what there is to know.
There are plenty of elements in Savage’s narrative that end like this one: "Baglione suspects that the birds recognize family members that they have lived with in the past and are therefore able to distinguish between unwelcome intruders and welcome guests." “Suspects,” “theorizes,” “infers,” these and other similar descriptive terms indicate the state of knowledge, and how much further research needs to be done.
Here is a report of more recent research: https://www.statnews.com/2020/09/24/c...
"…. so far as anyone knows, neither arachnid nor insect nor mollusk ponders deeply before it responds, weighing the options and considering pros and cons."
I found myself drawn into her “world.”
"To live long and prosper, a social animal needs a full array of mental defenses, including the capacity to recognize, remember, anticipate, analyze, and think strategically. Accordingly, most scientists now believe that higher intelligence likely arose in intensely sociable species where individuals could gain an evolutionary upper hand through their interactions with one another."
Some of the comparisons were strained or unnecessary: "…. so far as anyone knows, neither arachnid nor insect nor mollusk ponders deeply before it responds, weighing the options and considering pros and cons."
There is speculations:
"To live long and prosper, a social animal needs a full array of mental defenses, including the capacity to recognize, remember, anticipate, analyze, and think strategically. Accordingly, most scientists now believe that higher intelligence likely arose in intensely sociable species where individuals could gain an evolutionary upper hand through their interactions with one another."
And a lot that is unexplained. For instance why are some crows (of the same species) cooperative breeders and some not?
"In general, cooperative breeding occurs when young birds delay dispersal (and thereby forgo the opportunity to mate and produce young of their own) in favor of remaining with their parents and helping out around home. And this eccentric behavior is not restricted to exotic South Sea islands; it can also be observed in backyards and parks in many parts of Canada and the United States. Thanks largely to the Herculean efforts of Caffrey, McGowan, and their co-workers over the past dozen years, we now know that cooperative breeding is common—though not universal—among American crows."
I see crows demonstrating some of these “intelligent” behaviors almost every day. And Savage helps to fill in many of the gaps in my observations. That she writes entertainingly is a plus, but you may find that there is a lot of history and literature “filler” that is extraneous to your needs. My biggest disappointment is the gap between what (according to Savage) we know and what there is to know.
There are plenty of elements in Savage’s narrative that end like this one: "Baglione suspects that the birds recognize family members that they have lived with in the past and are therefore able to distinguish between unwelcome intruders and welcome guests." “Suspects,” “theorizes,” “infers,” these and other similar descriptive terms indicate the state of knowledge, and how much further research needs to be done.
Here is a report of more recent research: https://www.statnews.com/2020/09/24/c...
February 15, 2022
I like ravens, and as this book puts it very early on "what is a raven except a crow taken to the extreme?" I have always been fasinated by the species, perhaps because they are birds of Óðinn, perhaps because they are so black and clever. Whatever the reason, they have just always fascinated me.
This book explores this fascinating subject, crows, ravens, rooks, jackdaws, basically corvids of all kinds. It goes into intelligence, the use of tools for example, family relationships, and so on. I knew a fair bit about ravens before reading this book, but even so, this book came with a lot of surprising facts about crows.
It is based on scientific research, but is mostly told through stories, which makes it a very readable book. The writer has a light style, that is easy to read. Basically it's well written. I enjoyed the read a lot, and I may read it again someday.
This book explores this fascinating subject, crows, ravens, rooks, jackdaws, basically corvids of all kinds. It goes into intelligence, the use of tools for example, family relationships, and so on. I knew a fair bit about ravens before reading this book, but even so, this book came with a lot of surprising facts about crows.
It is based on scientific research, but is mostly told through stories, which makes it a very readable book. The writer has a light style, that is easy to read. Basically it's well written. I enjoyed the read a lot, and I may read it again someday.
February 24, 2025
“…researchers have discovered that…crows are among the brainiest organisms on Earth, outclassing not only other birds…but also most mammals. In fact, the brain-to-body ratio of a typical crow is similar to that of a chimpanzee and not far off our own.”
I think my fascination with crows and ravens began when I read Poe’s THE RAVEN as a young girl. I’ve always known them to be super intelligent and cleverly crafty in ways that are not often associated with animals outside of mammals. But this book offered me stories and research findings that made me see these black-feathered wonders of science in a whole new light.
I am lucky enough to get to see crows in my backyard every day, and I never tire of watching them. They are quite remarkable and have truly earned their spot in the top ten smartest animals in the world. This book captures the exceptionality of Corvids perfectly, and I recommend it to bird lovers everywhere.
I think my fascination with crows and ravens began when I read Poe’s THE RAVEN as a young girl. I’ve always known them to be super intelligent and cleverly crafty in ways that are not often associated with animals outside of mammals. But this book offered me stories and research findings that made me see these black-feathered wonders of science in a whole new light.
I am lucky enough to get to see crows in my backyard every day, and I never tire of watching them. They are quite remarkable and have truly earned their spot in the top ten smartest animals in the world. This book captures the exceptionality of Corvids perfectly, and I recommend it to bird lovers everywhere.
February 10, 2015
Here's the deal, people: crows are amazing. I could write a long review here, spewing my love for them, despite their loud caws outside my window at six-thirty on a Saturday morning. I could tell you all about their complex family and group dynamics, how they mate for life (even though the females are notoriously promiscuous), how they cache food and sparkly treasures, how they raid their fellow crows' caches, how they trick their fellow crows into thinking they're hiding their food and shiny treasures in a certain cache but they're really tricking them into thinking they're hiding they're stuff so they can go hide it somewhere safer while the tricked tricksters go empty out the empty cache, how some crows have displayed linguistic talents greater even than their more lauded parrot cousins (just because they're all colorful people think they're sooooo special), how crows have regional dialects, how if you become a crow antagonist in one county you may very well go into the next county over and notice that all the crows are giving the stink eye to you because their crow friends have warned them about you, and of course it must be said how awesome it is that a group of crows is called a murder. All of this is true.
But the one thing I'll leave you with that truly illustrates the awesomeness of crows is this amazing video of Betty the New Caledonian Crow who was a subject of study in which she proved that she can make and use tools. Let me repeat that for you: MAKE AND USE TOOLS! Does this not amaze you? If not, take a moment to consider how many animals use tools. Humans (yep, we're animals), lots of primates like chimps and orangutans and bonobos and gorillas and some others (they use sticks to hit stuff, basically), dolphins sometimes stick sponges on their noses and then dig through sand with it, elephants can hit stuff with sticks or drop rocks on things, sea otters can hit stuff with sticks, and some species of birds like Egyptian vultures use rocks to break open eggs. But tool manufacture is a different thing, and the list of animals that have been observed to do it is much shorts: us humans again (it happens every now and then, even I have witnessed it!), chimpanzees, maybe orangutans, maybe (and it's a big maybe on this one, in my opinion) Asian elephants, and most definitely New Caledonian crows. Cool, eh?
So the next time someone asks you what your favorite animal is, I trust you know what the correct answer is.
Bonus material:
A crow displays causal understanding of water displacement.
A crow displays its ability to think multiple steps ahead. (Disclaimer: this video probably displays trainability more than inherent smarts, but it's still pretty cool.)
This crow found a human friend.
Let David Attenborough tell you how Japanese crows use the city to get food.
AN ACTUAL RAVEN SAYING "NEVERMORE"
This guy is basically living my dream.
P.S. It occurs to me that I should actually say something about this book. It's a good introduction to why crows are awesome and I highly recommend it. It's nice and succinct and doesn't get too technical.
But the one thing I'll leave you with that truly illustrates the awesomeness of crows is this amazing video of Betty the New Caledonian Crow who was a subject of study in which she proved that she can make and use tools. Let me repeat that for you: MAKE AND USE TOOLS! Does this not amaze you? If not, take a moment to consider how many animals use tools. Humans (yep, we're animals), lots of primates like chimps and orangutans and bonobos and gorillas and some others (they use sticks to hit stuff, basically), dolphins sometimes stick sponges on their noses and then dig through sand with it, elephants can hit stuff with sticks or drop rocks on things, sea otters can hit stuff with sticks, and some species of birds like Egyptian vultures use rocks to break open eggs. But tool manufacture is a different thing, and the list of animals that have been observed to do it is much shorts: us humans again (it happens every now and then, even I have witnessed it!), chimpanzees, maybe orangutans, maybe (and it's a big maybe on this one, in my opinion) Asian elephants, and most definitely New Caledonian crows. Cool, eh?
So the next time someone asks you what your favorite animal is, I trust you know what the correct answer is.
Bonus material:
A crow displays causal understanding of water displacement.
A crow displays its ability to think multiple steps ahead. (Disclaimer: this video probably displays trainability more than inherent smarts, but it's still pretty cool.)
This crow found a human friend.
Let David Attenborough tell you how Japanese crows use the city to get food.
AN ACTUAL RAVEN SAYING "NEVERMORE"
This guy is basically living my dream.
P.S. It occurs to me that I should actually say something about this book. It's a good introduction to why crows are awesome and I highly recommend it. It's nice and succinct and doesn't get too technical.
January 8, 2020
This is a pleasant book about crows and ravens, full of anecdotes about the strange encounters that people often have with the species. Interspersed throughout fairly current scientific data about corvids - emotions they might feel, how they socialize, solve problems, create tools, and essentially form their own cultures - are myths and stories of how people have interacted with them over time. An interesting aspect of the book is that often the stories and myths hint at how well older cultures understood what science is now proving today - the crow is a crafty bird, and all too much like us.
While humans and crows are exceptionally taxonomically distinct, well over 250 million years separates us from our most recent ancestor - there is much that we have in common with these poorly studied animals. Like Alex, the African Grey Parrot, they harbor intelligence previously only seen in our closest relatives - and even then they are often far more advanced than those primates.
We have a lot to learn about other animals, but at least now we're beginning to recognize the fact that we're more alike than not.
While humans and crows are exceptionally taxonomically distinct, well over 250 million years separates us from our most recent ancestor - there is much that we have in common with these poorly studied animals. Like Alex, the African Grey Parrot, they harbor intelligence previously only seen in our closest relatives - and even then they are often far more advanced than those primates.
We have a lot to learn about other animals, but at least now we're beginning to recognize the fact that we're more alike than not.
December 28, 2021
For their size (which is how you measure this: the ratio of grey matter to body size overall) the brain of a raven is as large as that of a chimpanzee; and in fact, many people who have studied and lived alongside wild ravens for decades reckon they are more intelligent than chimpanzees. As for relationships, crows in particular are turning out to be intensely social animals, their extended families and networks resembling to a surprising degree those of elephants and, dare I say it, humans.
Worldwide there are forty-five species of the genus Corvus, which includes crows, ravens, jackdaws and rooks (not magpies or jays, who are their close cousins) and this book is a celebration of everything corvid. It’s a combination of nature observation and science, interspersed throughout with artwork, anecdotes and stories from all around the globe. The illustrations include mediaeval illuminated manuscripts and woodcuts, nineteenth-century engravings, Japanese prints, Arthur Rackham watercolours, some wonderful photographs and even a map of the constellations (there’s a Corvus in the night sky).
One science-related quibble (page 40): “Evolution is a ruthless master; innovations that don’t pay off are left behind in the fossil beds…” is a complete misunderstanding of the history of life; but that’s a single flaw in what is an otherwise exquisitely produced book—from the quality of the pictures to the fonts used for headings, it’s a work of art in its own right. It brings these birds to life too, so well they almost flap up off the pages at you. Up close they’re stunning—sleek and glossy, faintly iridescent—but it’s those beady eyes, of course, in particular. You see it immediately: these birds aren’t just bright, there’s clearly someone in there weighing you up.
And my three favourite facts? One: that crows, rusty-hinge caws and all, are technically-speaking songbirds. Two: that a pair of ravens, roosting lovingly together side by side, often sit holding one another’s feet just the way humans hold hands. And number Three I knew already, my own grandmother having told me this when I was little: that one old English collective noun for rooks is a storytelling of rooks.
Worldwide there are forty-five species of the genus Corvus, which includes crows, ravens, jackdaws and rooks (not magpies or jays, who are their close cousins) and this book is a celebration of everything corvid. It’s a combination of nature observation and science, interspersed throughout with artwork, anecdotes and stories from all around the globe. The illustrations include mediaeval illuminated manuscripts and woodcuts, nineteenth-century engravings, Japanese prints, Arthur Rackham watercolours, some wonderful photographs and even a map of the constellations (there’s a Corvus in the night sky).
One science-related quibble (page 40): “Evolution is a ruthless master; innovations that don’t pay off are left behind in the fossil beds…” is a complete misunderstanding of the history of life; but that’s a single flaw in what is an otherwise exquisitely produced book—from the quality of the pictures to the fonts used for headings, it’s a work of art in its own right. It brings these birds to life too, so well they almost flap up off the pages at you. Up close they’re stunning—sleek and glossy, faintly iridescent—but it’s those beady eyes, of course, in particular. You see it immediately: these birds aren’t just bright, there’s clearly someone in there weighing you up.
And my three favourite facts? One: that crows, rusty-hinge caws and all, are technically-speaking songbirds. Two: that a pair of ravens, roosting lovingly together side by side, often sit holding one another’s feet just the way humans hold hands. And number Three I knew already, my own grandmother having told me this when I was little: that one old English collective noun for rooks is a storytelling of rooks.
February 28, 2022
Crows: Encounters with the Wise Guys of the Avian World by Candace Savage is an engaging tribute to the multi-faceted crow. Relying on research and some fascinating anecdotes, Savage explores the tool-making and tool-using capabilities of crows, their intelligence, their ability to relay information to other crows (“crow language”), their trickery, their social interactions, and their family dynamics. Peppered liberally throughout the text are short myths and fables featuring crows and ravens, as well as some beautiful illustrations of the birds, including delicate water colors, engravings, prints, and photographs.
The book avoids technical language, making it a very readable and engaging introduction to all manner of crow-dom. Although there is a lot we know about crows, Savage clearly indicates there is much we don’t know. Further research is needed to fully explore the capabilities of this interesting species with whom we seem to have a lot in common.
Recommended.
My book reviews are also available at www.tamaraaghajaffar.com
The book avoids technical language, making it a very readable and engaging introduction to all manner of crow-dom. Although there is a lot we know about crows, Savage clearly indicates there is much we don’t know. Further research is needed to fully explore the capabilities of this interesting species with whom we seem to have a lot in common.
Recommended.
My book reviews are also available at www.tamaraaghajaffar.com
May 26, 2023
A mix of stories, mythology, legends, research and poems of crows. This was an interesting collection of information and entertaining to read.
However, it's short on pages and details. A delight, but I wanted more. Recommended for light, entertaining, interesting stories.
The ending was too abrupt. There are numerous notes and recommended readings (which I'll be checking out) that I wasn't expecting. Therefore, the book ended when I was expecting it to continue.
However, it's short on pages and details. A delight, but I wanted more. Recommended for light, entertaining, interesting stories.
The ending was too abrupt. There are numerous notes and recommended readings (which I'll be checking out) that I wasn't expecting. Therefore, the book ended when I was expecting it to continue.
February 19, 2025
Excellent book on people’s stories with crows, interspersed with small poems or anecdotes. Perfect introduction into the world of Corvus.
July 8, 2008
Enjoyable short non-fiction book about Crows, thought to be the smartest bird. Includes paintings, drawings & folklore tales about crows, ravens, & rooks.
My fascination with the corvid family of birds isn't with the crows, but with blue jays - close relatives. Books on just the blue jay subset are impossible to find, so I've focused on books featuring the larger corvid family.
Mr. & Mrs. Blue Jay live in the hedges in the neighbor's yard - have since I've lived here, 5 1/2 years. They hang out in my yard every single day -- summer, winter, spring & fall -- at the bird feeder & bath ... and I so enjoy watching them raise their blue jay babies each year!
Candace Savage has written many non-fiction nature & science books. All I've read have been very informative and enjoyable.
My fascination with the corvid family of birds isn't with the crows, but with blue jays - close relatives. Books on just the blue jay subset are impossible to find, so I've focused on books featuring the larger corvid family.
Mr. & Mrs. Blue Jay live in the hedges in the neighbor's yard - have since I've lived here, 5 1/2 years. They hang out in my yard every single day -- summer, winter, spring & fall -- at the bird feeder & bath ... and I so enjoy watching them raise their blue jay babies each year!
Candace Savage has written many non-fiction nature & science books. All I've read have been very informative and enjoyable.
February 18, 2018
This book was a disappointment. It wasn't particularly bad or anything... I just wish there was more. Trivial facts about the corvids presented in the book were neat and interesting. Including myths and folklore associated with crows and ravens was a nice touch. The writing itself, though, was not very polished and the book lacked continuity between chapters.
I would be hesitant to pick up another book by Savage. This is too bad because I was really interested in her book Bird Brain. I think I will be reading more directly from scientists who actually observed and/or conducted experiments on crows/ravens.
Beautiful illustrations and photographs though.
It's a mere 2-star book.
I would be hesitant to pick up another book by Savage. This is too bad because I was really interested in her book Bird Brain. I think I will be reading more directly from scientists who actually observed and/or conducted experiments on crows/ravens.
Beautiful illustrations and photographs though.
It's a mere 2-star book.
May 19, 2025
لە باخچەی ماڵێدا دارێکی هەڵووچەم ١٤ ساڵ پێش چاند و چەند ساڵێکە هاتۆتە بەر. ئەو پاییزە قاژوویەک هێلانەی لەسەر کردبوو. ڕای ماڵێ وابوو کە هێلانەکە بڕووخێنم چۆن دەبێتە هۆکاری ویشک بوونی دارەکە! من لێی گەڕام کە بمێنێتەوە. جا ئێستا کە بەهارە و هاتۆتە بەر چووم بڕێک هەڵووچە لێبکەمەوە بەڵام بە شێوەی جۆراوجۆر کاتێک لە دارەکە نزیک دەبوومەوە هەوڵی پاراستنی هێلانە و جوجکەکەیان دەدەن یان دەیکەنە قیژ و هاوار یان بە دندووک لە دارەکە دەکووتن کە بە جۆڕێک من بترسێنن.
لەو ڕۆژانەدا لە گوودریدز بە هەڵکەوت تووشی ئەو کتێبە هاتم کە سەبارەت بە قاژووکانە و ئەگەر چی ساڵانێکە لە باخ و باخچە و مزرا دەیانبیم بەڵام قەت بەو جۆرەی پێویستە سەرنجم نەدابووە ژیانیان. هەڵبەت هەمیشە نان و شتیان باش دەدیتەوە و زۆریان نان و شت لیخواردووم ئەو کاتانەی ئاگام لێ نەبووە. هەمیشە بۆم پرسیار بوو چۆن وا زوو ئاگاداری ئەو شتانە دەبن.
ئەو کتێبەم بە یارمەتی ژیری دەسکرد خوێندەوە لەڕاستیدا. قاژووکان چەند شتی تایبەتییان هەیە. مێشکیان لە قەبارەی باڵایان گەورەیە و زۆر زیرەکن و زوو شت فێر دەبن. کاری بە کۆمەڵ بە باشی دەبەنە پێش! تەنانەت زۆر یارمەتی یەکتر دەدەن. زمان و ڕەمزی تایبەت بە خۆیان و کۆمەڵی خۆیان دەتوانن فێر بن! دەتوانن بیری ئاژەڵەکانی دیکە بخوێننەوە و بەو جۆرە دەتوانن زۆر بە باشی فریویان دەن و هەڵیانخەڵەتێنن.
ئاستی فێر بوونیان و کاری بەکۆمەڵیان لە ئاستی شامپازدەکان نزیکە.
لەو ڕۆژانەدا لە گوودریدز بە هەڵکەوت تووشی ئەو کتێبە هاتم کە سەبارەت بە قاژووکانە و ئەگەر چی ساڵانێکە لە باخ و باخچە و مزرا دەیانبیم بەڵام قەت بەو جۆرەی پێویستە سەرنجم نەدابووە ژیانیان. هەڵبەت هەمیشە نان و شتیان باش دەدیتەوە و زۆریان نان و شت لیخواردووم ئەو کاتانەی ئاگام لێ نەبووە. هەمیشە بۆم پرسیار بوو چۆن وا زوو ئاگاداری ئەو شتانە دەبن.
ئەو کتێبەم بە یارمەتی ژیری دەسکرد خوێندەوە لەڕاستیدا. قاژووکان چەند شتی تایبەتییان هەیە. مێشکیان لە قەبارەی باڵایان گەورەیە و زۆر زیرەکن و زوو شت فێر دەبن. کاری بە کۆمەڵ بە باشی دەبەنە پێش! تەنانەت زۆر یارمەتی یەکتر دەدەن. زمان و ڕەمزی تایبەت بە خۆیان و کۆمەڵی خۆیان دەتوانن فێر بن! دەتوانن بیری ئاژەڵەکانی دیکە بخوێننەوە و بەو جۆرە دەتوانن زۆر بە باشی فریویان دەن و هەڵیانخەڵەتێنن.
ئاستی فێر بوونیان و کاری بەکۆمەڵیان لە ئاستی شامپازدەکان نزیکە.
June 21, 2017
First of all, I love crows, I adore them.
So called certain events in my life led me to being locked out with no internet and this book. So I got to read this on the terrace while one such crow who hates me repeatedly kept shouting at me getting as close to me from all the directions he can and was eventually chased off by two such crows who knew me very well. During all this and bit of rain I couldn't help but notice few crows supporting his ruckus when he was around and some just came up to see what's going on.
Actual review:
Now putting all that aside the book was perfect read for me as it managed to answer some of my critical questions about crows. Mainly it tells about various accounts of observations as said in title and discusses possible and confirmed results about crows showing various aspects of intelligence or being human-alike. It has images and also tells stories, role of crows (and ravens) in various cultures.
It's a short read and perfect for crow enthusiast.
So called certain events in my life led me to being locked out with no internet and this book. So I got to read this on the terrace while one such crow who hates me repeatedly kept shouting at me getting as close to me from all the directions he can and was eventually chased off by two such crows who knew me very well. During all this and bit of rain I couldn't help but notice few crows supporting his ruckus when he was around and some just came up to see what's going on.
Actual review:
Now putting all that aside the book was perfect read for me as it managed to answer some of my critical questions about crows. Mainly it tells about various accounts of observations as said in title and discusses possible and confirmed results about crows showing various aspects of intelligence or being human-alike. It has images and also tells stories, role of crows (and ravens) in various cultures.
It's a short read and perfect for crow enthusiast.
September 17, 2018
A decent look into the world of the crow. The format of the book however is odd and detracts from the reading experience, it inserts small stories right in the middle of chapters. flipping a page in mid sentence sometimes will dump you in a random story from the author only to return to the original story pages later... I will say the book is easy to understand and the author does a good job on lightly toughing on certain subjects like communication, family, and intelligence. It is a very basic view that I appreciated since I didn't want to get hammered with a ton of science or narrative. The main emphasis was on how smart are crows really? we know they are smart but for example, are they aware of what the are doing socially or cognitive of their actions? It is interesting to think about and also interesting to think we don't know that much about their intelligence.
July 10, 2021
Enjoyable book about our black feathered friends. Some of the anecdotal stories could have been better incorporated — I often found myself going back and forth in the book as I didn’t want to stop in the middle of one essay to read a poem — but everything was enjoyable. Overall left me with more appreciation for crows and ravens than I already had.
July 26, 2015
A great book about the most common bird that we get to ignore. We tend to forget about these beautiful birds that are quite witty and intelligent and have a society setup of their own that is similar to the humans. This book changes the perspective we have about these birds.
September 3, 2017
A beautiful book full of research, anecdotes, photos and artwork. Those wonderful birds usually known simply as crows and ravens really are very intelligent beings capable of so much more than most have imagined.
December 28, 2017
The artsy layout of this book is actually quite distracting. Chapters are interrupted by art work and fables that are not clearly delineated.
A sparse volume. I'm looking for a much better look at these fascinating birds.
A sparse volume. I'm looking for a much better look at these fascinating birds.
May 21, 2017
An entertaining, fast read about the intelligence and behaviours of crows and ravens.
March 1, 2020
A delightful, beautifully illustrated introduction to the science and mythology of these amazing birds.
Read
December 17, 2021This is a short and nicely-illustrated book filled with crow lore. I was expecting more about actual crows; there is some, but there's just as much folklore. I did not like how much ravens, crows, and other corvids were considered basically the same. Also, I've read several books on corvids, and I don't think I found anything new here (other than the folklore, which isn't what I wanted to read). It's more a coffee table book than ethology.
May 29, 2020
This was such a delightful little book! I actually picked it up from the library a while back, but after reading Hollow Kingdom, it moved up on the TBR list. Full of folklore, beautiful art, and recent scientific discoveries about the brilliant corvid, it was an easily-handled little morsel of biological non-fiction.
October 3, 2024
Informative and fun
This was a quick and very informative book! I learned much about crows and have a new respect for them. I knew they were smart, but this shows how intelligent they are and could possibly be even more intelligent than we know. I also enjoyed the little stories and poems woven in between. this was not dry at all and will certainly keep your interest.,
This was a quick and very informative book! I learned much about crows and have a new respect for them. I knew they were smart, but this shows how intelligent they are and could possibly be even more intelligent than we know. I also enjoyed the little stories and poems woven in between. this was not dry at all and will certainly keep your interest.,
July 1, 2022
a wonderful book, just wish there was more of it.
It is a collection of anecdotes and experiments regarding crow behaviour, with some folklore and mythology thrown in and several beautiful illustrations and photos.
It is a collection of anecdotes and experiments regarding crow behaviour, with some folklore and mythology thrown in and several beautiful illustrations and photos.
September 3, 2024
I absolutely loved this book. I love crows so this was so fun to learn more about them. All the research and stories on crows and ravens was fascinating. It was interesting to see what aligned with my experience of befriending crows. Great read!
January 6, 2021
Informative source for fiction story I am working on
April 26, 2021
A wonderful book that packs in a lot of fun and interesting info about Crows and Ravens.
October 9, 2017
An attractive book with thick, artsy pages making it perfect for a casual dip. It roams through myth and crows in history and photographs. If you already know something about crows, I'd give this a pass, though, as it doesn't go into much detail. For instance, I would have loved to have heard more, much more, about the crows at the traffic lights in Japan--how did they happen upon this solution? How old are their young when they pass the knowledge along? Ditto for the ways crows attack people. Tell me, tell me, tell me. This book doesn't. But if you are looking for an intro to crows, I doubt you'd find a more beautiful one.
July 15, 2021
This is an enjoyable, highly abridged, account of corvids.
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