Determining whether a crow is a fledgling or a mature adult can be tricky. Fledglings are young crows that have recently left the nest but are still dependent on their parents for food and protection. Here are some tips for identifying crow fledglings and understanding their behavior.
What is a fledgling?
A fledgling is a young bird that has grown enough feathers and wing strength to leave the nest but is still too young to fly well or survive on its own. For crows, the fledgling phase lasts from around 4-8 weeks after hatching. During this time, fledglings leave the nest and follow their parents around, begging loudly for food. However, fledglings cannot forage efficiently or fly long distances yet. They rely completely on their parents to find food for them and protect them from predators.
When do crows fledge?
Crows typically fledge around 35-45 days after hatching. However, the exact timing can vary based on factors like the health of the chicks, food availability, and weather conditions. Some signs that a crow nest contains nearly fledged chicks are:
- Chicks visible in the nest appear fully feathered.
- Chicks Craning their necks and flapping wings in the nest.
- Adult crows very protective of the nest.
- Lots of noise coming from the nest as chicks beg for food.
Within a few days of these signs appearing, the chicks will leave the nest and become fledglings.
Appearance of a fledgling crow
Fledgling crows can be identified by a mix of juvenile and adult features:
- Full or nearly full size of an adult crow.
- Shorter tail feathers than adults.
- Some fluffy down feathers remaining, especially on head and wings.
- Beak nearly adult size but dark grey rather than black.
- Eyes dark blue or grey rather than adult crow’s black eyes.
- Legs and feet pinkish grey rather than solid black.
The feathers may appear a bit ruffled or unkempt compared to a mature crow’s sleek plumage. However, the fledgling has all its flight feathers so it can flap its wings and move from branch to branch.
Behaviors of fledgling crows
Fledgling crows exhibit some key behaviors that distinguish them from independent, adult crows:
- Cannot fly long distances – can only make short hops and flights between branches.
- Stays close to parents at all times – does not wander far away.
- Loud, incessant begging calls – cries out frequently for parents to feed it.
- Clumsy walking and flying – poor coordination and stability.
- May flutter wings and squat when begging for food.
- Allows adults to continue feeding it by regurgitation.
- Unable to find or handle food items on its own yet.
As it gains experience, the fledgling will begin spending more time away from the parents and practicing flying skills. Within a couple months it should gain full independence and crow behaviors.
Difference from nestling crows
Nestling crows can be easily distinguished from fledglings. Nestling crows:
- Are smaller with much less feather growth.
- Stay in the nest at all times.
- Parents feed them by dropping food items into the nest.
- Make less noise and movement in the nest.
- Do not attempt to hop or fly around the nest area.
Nestlings are 1-4 weeks old while fledglings are 5-8 weeks old. The major differences in size, feathering, mobility and parental care make the stages easy to tell apart.
Difference from adult crows
While fledgling crows may appear nearly adult size, some key differences remain between fledglings and mature adult crows:
Fledgling Crow | Adult Crow |
---|---|
Greyish beak | Jet black beak |
Blue/grey eyes | Black eyes |
Pinkish grey legs | Solid black legs |
Ruffled feathers | Smooth, sleek plumage |
Flies weakly in short bursts | Powerful, sustained flight |
Cannot find own food | Competent forager |
Constantly begs for food | Feeds independently |
Stays near parents | Ranges widely alone or in flocks |
Quieter vocalizations | Full repertoire of loud caws |
The physical differences like beak and eye color may be subtle, but the behavioral differences make it easy to distinguish dependent fledglings from adult crows.
Is a fledgling crow safe on the ground?
It is completely normal to see fledgling crows on the ground, trailing after the parents and begging noisily for food. Unlike songbird fledglings which need help if on the ground, crow fledglings are supposed to be there as part of their development. The parents will continue feeding and protecting the youngster. However, keep dogs and cats away from ground fledglings and do not handle them.
What do fledgling crows eat?
Fledgling crows depend entirely on their parents to provide food for the first few weeks out of the nest. The adults will regurgitate small pieces of food into the mouths of begging fledglings. Good foods for parent crows to feed fledglings include:
- Insects
- Earthworms
- Fruits and berries
- Seeds
- Nuts
- Small amounts of human food scraps
- Carrion
- Frogs, lizards, fish
- Bird eggs and nestlings
The variety of food parents collect improves the nutrition of fledglings. As long as the young crows appear active and healthy, the parents are likely providing adequate fare.
Do fledgling crows drink water?
Fledgling crows need water like adult crows. However, early in the fledgling stage the parents provide all the water a young crow needs when they regurgitate liquid food. Later, the parents will lead fledglings to puddles and other water sources, though the young crows may struggle to drink efficiently. Shallow dishes of water can help supplement their intake if natural sources are limited.
When do fledglings become independent?
Crow fledglings become independent of their parents around 35-45 days after leaving the nest. Gradually they spend more time wandering away from the parents and less time begging to be fed. Eventually the young crow is able to find all its own food and fly strongly. Parental feeding drops off completely by the time the crow can fly to roost in trees at night alongside other crows. Newly independent juveniles often remain in loose flocks with other young crows for safety in numbers.
How long do crows care for fledglings?
From hatching to independence, crow parents care for their young for an extended period of 8-10 weeks. This includes:
- ~3 weeks incubating eggs
- ~2-4 weeks feeding nestlings
- 4-6 weeks tending fledglings
Crow fledglings are dependent on care the longest of any stage. The parents work extremely hard to find enough food for their demanding offspring during this time period. Their devotion allows the fledglings to grow into successful adults.
Do crow fledglings return to the nest?
Crow fledglings rarely return to the original nest once they leave it. They follow the parent crows around continuously, sleeping wherever the parents roost overnight. Since fledglings remain with the parents for 4-6 more weeks after fledging, they have no need to go back to the nest. The parents may eventually reuse the nest though or build a new one in the same area.
Can a fledgling survive without parents?
Fledgling crows require extensive care from the adult birds to survive past one month of age. Without parents to provide protection and regurgitated food every 20-30 minutes, fledglings will die from starvation, exposure, or predators. The best chance of survival is leaving the fledgling with the parents or taking it to a wildlife rehabilitator.
At what age can fledglings breed?
Crows reach sexual maturity sometime between ages 1-3. However, they often do not successfully breed and raise young until after age 3. So crow fledglings are not mature enough to breed in their first year or two of life. Most crows start breeding around age 4 or 5 when they have learned essential skills like building nests, incubating eggs, and raising chicks.
Conclusion
Identifying a fledgling crow and understanding its needs is important for ensuring the young bird’s health and future breeding success. Fledglings can be distinguished from nestlings and adults by their physical appearance, constant begging calls, close association with parents, and inability to fly far or feed themselves. If you find a fledgling on the ground, remember that it is normal and the parents are still caring for it. Avoid disturbing the birds, keep pets away, and don’t attempt to rescue the fledgling unless it is clearly sick, injured or orphaned. With devoted parental care, fledgling crows master essential life skills and go on to become adaptable, intelligent adults.