I've been lucky enough to get to know several wild crows quite well.

This is Tatterwing—my very favorite among all of them.
Many of my crows come when I call them, but she was always the first to arrive, landing on her favorite perch in our western red cedar.
Tatterwing is the only crow I’ve ever known who could carry five peanuts at a time. She’d spear them on her beak like a kabob. I’ve never seen another crow do that systematically.
But why was she called Tatterwing? Look at those stunning lace wings. She was the Stevie Nicks of crows.
She stopped coming around about a year ago. I hope she's ok and just found it time to move on.

Miss you, Tatterwing.
This is CC, which is short for Close Call. The feather damage to the breast looks rather like she was caught by a raptor and escaped.
My dear friend @kris0723 befriended her at a local park. CC usually comes and finds us when we visit. I think she’s dashing, like the heroine of a dark comic book.
I did not take these next two pictures, Kris did — but I wanted to include them to make it very clear that CC takes no BS from anyone. Here she is defending her turf from an interloper.
I did not take these next two pictures, Kris did — but I wanted to include them to make it very clear that CC takes no BS from anyone. Here she is defending her turf from an interloper.
I did not take these next two pictures, Kris did — but I wanted to include them to make it very clear that CC takes no BS from anyone. Here she is defending her turf from an interloper.
CC has been around for a couple of years and her feathers are less damaged but still markedly tousled. Last time I saw her, she introduced us to her boyfriend. They make a lovely couple.
A number of people have asked me how to befriend crows. It's not too hard, at least with *urban crows*. Rural crows are far more wary.

Here's a short thread from last year: https://twitter.com/CT_Bergstrom/status/1149764972026613760
[continuing the thread of crows I've known]

Last autumn and winter I got to know two "caramel crows", presumably siblings.
The have a mutation that inhibits their ability to produce dark pigment, but as best as I can tell the exact pathway is not known. Below, with a “ordinary” crow for comparison.
I think they are stunningly beautiful birds. I like to imagine discovering a lost island inhabited only by such birds, their own crow species.
Unfortunately, they are picked on a bit by the other crows, and the pigment has a structural function so their feathers break down faster as you can see below.
I have many crow friends at the University of Washington. I carry peanuts or other snacks in my pockets, and they recognize me and swoop down in a special, characteristic glide designed to get my attention.

Here are two of them.
I have many crow friends at the University of Washington. I carry peanuts or other snacks in my pockets, and they recognize me and swoop down in a special, characteristic glide designed to get my attention. Here are two of them.
I have many crow friends at the University of Washington. I carry peanuts or other snacks in my pockets, and they recognize me and swoop down in a special, characteristic glide designed to get my attention. Here are two of them.
Hoping for a handout, they sometimes brush my face with their wingtips. I doesn’t matter if I’m gone for a month, or if I get a new jacket, or if my face is hidden under a hood — they almost always spot me before I spot them, I think from my gait.
The campus birds are less wary of people, and they're very clever. This one figured out that bird spikes make a great place to cache treats. And the find some pretty good nesting sites as well.
The campus birds are less wary of people, and they're very clever. This one figured out that bird spikes make a great place to cache treats. And the find some pretty good nesting sites as well.
The campus birds are less wary of people, and they're very clever. This one figured out that bird spikes make a great place to cache treats. And the find some pretty good nesting sites as well.
This lovely UW bird with a distinctive eyebrow is my twitter avatar.

It's not the best crow picture I've ever taken—though the soft background is a pleasing characteristic of the 35-year-old 200mm lens I used at the time. I have a large print of this hanging on my wall at home.
This particular bird defended a territory along my daily walk up until the pandemic started. It certainly knows how to rock a feather skirt.
This particular bird defended a territory along my daily walk up until the pandemic started. It certainly knows how to rock a feather skirt.
This particular bird defended a territory along my daily walk up until the pandemic started. It certainly knows how to rock a feather skirt.
You can follow @CT_Bergstrom.
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