How to Attract Crows to Your Yard (Per Bird Experts)

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Ornithologist Roger J. Lederer, PhD, explains how to use food and water to bring crows to your home

Co-authored by Roger J. Lederer, PhD and Elaine Heredia, BA

Last Updated: August 3, 2026 Fact Checked

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Crows are incredibly bright creatures and one of the most intelligent species in the animal kingdom. They can also be useful additions to your yard! Crows can keep plants free of insects and other pests, and their large size deters other predatory birds, like hawks, from invading your space. We interviewed ornithologists to compile a list of environmentally friendly ways to attract crows and keep them coming back.

How do you attract crows?

Ornithologist Roger J. Lederer, PhD, says to attract crows with large foods such as unsalted, unshelled peanuts. They're also tempted by sunflower seeds, dog kibble, hard-boiled eggs, and fresh fruits (with no seeds or pits). Here are other ways to attract crows to your yard:

Establish a regular feeding schedule to entice crows to return regularly.
Set out a birdbath with 1–2 in (2.5–5.1 cm) of clean water in it.
Get rid of wind chimes and keep your yard calm and quiet.
Provide tree branches, fence posts, and platforms for crows to perch on.

1

Scatter crow-friendly foods in your yard.

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Set out large foods like unsalted, unshelled peanuts or sunflower seeds. To first attract crows, Dr. Lederer advises putting out something noticeable, like peanuts or sunflower seeds in the shell.^{[1]
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Expert Source

Roger J. Lederer, PhD
Ornithologist

Expert Interview} Once they become regulars in your yard, ornithologist Holly Garrod says to give them a wider variety of foods, including dog kibble, hard-boiled eggs, fresh fruits, and mealworms.^{[2]
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Holly Garrod
Ornithologist

Expert Interview}
- Which foods are bad for crows? Avoid putting out these foods, which can make your crow sick or even die if they eat them:^{[3]
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  - Avocados
  - Chocolate
  - Bread
  - Salted nuts
  - Junk food
  - Fruit pits and seeds
  - Dairy products (including cheese)
  - Honey
  - Coffee grounds
- Pro tip: Only set out a few pieces of food at a time, so the crows don't come to rely on you as their only source of sustenance.
Meet the wikiHow Experts

Roger J. Lederer, PhD, is an ornithologist and the founder of Ornithology.com. He's spent over 40 years teaching, studying, and writing about birds.

Holly Garrod is an ornithologist and has been interested in birds since she was 9 years old. She studies bird behavior and is experienced at bird banding.

2

Establish a crow feeding schedule.

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Crows quickly learn if you provide food regularly. Some crows return to the same place every day to eat, provided they know there's always going to be food there.^{[4]
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Research source} If you want to build this routine with a crow, set out food at the same time every day or on certain days of the week. Pick a time in the morning or afternoon when crows are out and about and that also works with your schedule.
- Should you feed crows in the morning or the afternoon? Several crow lovers in this r/crows Reddit subthread say they feed their crows in the morning before they go to work. However, one user notes that they switched to the afternoon because their crows were cawing at them even on the weekends, waking them up and bothering the neighbors.
- Should you feed crows all year long? Give crows more food in winter and early spring, when their natural food sources are scarce. Feed them only occasionally in summer and fall, or not at all—but do provide water year-round!^{[5]
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3

Set up a birdbath as a water source.

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Crows and other birds need water, especially during hot weather. Dr. Lederer suggests setting up a birdbath as one of the key ways to attract crows to your yard.^{[6]
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Roger J. Lederer, PhD
Ornithologist

Expert Interview} Position a sturdy birdbath somewhere in your yard where it can get shade for at least part of the day (if possible). Refill it with 1–2 in (2.5–5.1 cm) of clean water every day, and keep it clear of ice in the winter.^{[7]
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The Cornell Lab of Ornithology
Research lab of Cornell University dedicated to interpreting and conserving the Earth's biological diversity through research and education about birds

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- If you don't have a birdbath, set out shallow bowls of water.

4

Keep your yard calm and noise-free.

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Clear away chimes and reduce movement in your yard. Crows are easily startled by random noises. Loud items like bells, wind chimes, and even squeaky loose gates can keep them away, so it's best to take them down.^{[8]
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Research source} Crows also get spooked by moving inanimate objects when they can't tell who or what is causing them to move. So take down any flags, windsocks, or other items that blow in the breeze.^{[9]
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- If you have children or pets, keep them inside the house during crow feeding times. That way, their fun doesn't deter the crows from enjoying their meal.

5

Provide perches for crows to hang out.

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Crows like horizontal places to rest, like fences and tree branches. They're sociable birds, so you'll need many places for them all to sit and stay. If you don't have any trees in your yard or a fence, erect a sturdy wooden post in your yard and screw a narrow piece of wood or a tree branch to the top of it.^{[10]
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6

Place crow decoys around your yard.

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If it looks like one crow is in your yard, others will want to follow. It should appear natural and alive. Figures hung upside-down, or otherwise appearing dead, like some Halloween decorations, might scare them off.^{[11]
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7

Lay out nesting materials.

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If crows realize that your yard is a good source of objects to make nests with, they're sure to visit often! Try setting out the materials they need to make their nests warm and cozy, like scraps of cotton or fabric, flowers, or paper. They also use grass or moss.^{[12]
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8

Set out random, interesting objects.

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You may have heard that crows like collecting jewelry and other shiny things, but researchers have proven that's not the case. However, they're still inquisitive creatures and have been known to check out items like golf balls and stones. Try setting out a random object once in a while, like an old windshield wiper, and see if that attracts a curious corvid to your yard.^{[13]
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9

Grow plants and lay rocks around your yard.

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Crows like to hide and hunt for food among plants and stand on rocks. Your yard will look more inviting to crows if it appears more like their natural habitat. With that in mind, consider planting trees and shrubs (if you don't have them already), where crows can perch, hide, and look for insects. Rocks will enhance your yard's natural beauty, as well as offer more places for crows to sit.^{[14]
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- Pro tip: If you have a garden, install a mesh cover over your plants to keep the crows from picking at your fruits, vegetables, and flowers.

10

Practice crow calls.

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There are a variety of different calls used by crows, many of which will draw a nearby group. One way to get their attention is to make a "hoo" sound with your mouth, then add a gurgling noise to it like you're clearing your throat.^{[15]
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11

Stay quiet and still when crows draw near.

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Show the crow that you're friendly and mean them no harm. When your efforts to attract crows finally pay off, and you start noticing them in your yard, don't rush toward them in excitement! Instead, move slowly and quietly, and keep your distance. Crows are easily startled, but if you show them you're not a threat, their curiosity usually wins out, and they'll stay. You might even be able to befriend them!
- Eventually, your crow friends might get so comfortable around you that they start bringing you small gifts (i.e., feathers, stones, or bits of trash).
- Pro tip: Be respectful of crows, says Garrod, and try not to make them mad. She notes that crows recognize humans who harassed them in the past and hold a grudge against them forever!^{[16]
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  Holly Garrod
  Ornithologist
  
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12

Bring your pets inside the house.

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Surprisingly, crows have no fear of cats or dogs, but Dr. Lederer says they're still predators that can harm your bird friends.^{[17]
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Roger J. Lederer, PhD
Ornithologist

Expert Interview} If, however, a crow decides that your cat or dog is threatening them or their chicks, they'll divebomb and peck at them. They might even call their crow friends to help wage war, a phenomenon called "mobbing." For your pets' safety (as well as the crows'), it's best to keep them inside when crows are around!^{[18]
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Join the Discussion...

Crow vs. Raven: Expert Explains Key Differences

Holly Garrod
Ornithologist

The best way to tell a crow and a raven apart is through vocalizations and tail shape. A crow has a fan-shaped tail and makes the classic “caw” sound, while a raven has a diamond-shaped tail and makes a croaking sound. A raven also has a longer beak than a crow, with more feathering on the base. Compared to a pigeon, a crow is a little bit bigger, while a raven is significantly bigger than a pigeon—closer to the size of a hawk.

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What foods attract crows?

Roger J. Lederer, PhD
Ornithologist
Dr. Roger Lederer is an Ornithologist and the founder of Ornithology.com, an informative website about wild birds. Dr. Lederer has spent over 40 years teaching, studying, and writing about birds. He has traveled to over 100 countries to study birds. Dr. Lederer is an Emeritus Professor of Biological Sciences at California State University, Chico, and has been a Department Chair of Biological Sciences and Dean of the College of Natural Sciences. He has written more than 30 research papers and 10 books on birds and a textbook entitled “Ecology and Field Biology.” Dr. Lederer has consulted the BBC, National Geographic, National Public Radio, ABC News, the Guinness Book of World Records, and numerous other organizations and publications.

Roger J. Lederer, PhD

Ornithologist

Expert Answer

Leave out some larger food, like peanuts in the shell or sunflower seeds, for crows to find.

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Can a crow be a good substitute for a human friend?

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It depends on the friend, but generally, crows can form bonds and offer companionship, though they cannot replace the full spectrum of human interaction.

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Do crows like corn on the cob?

Community Answer

Yes. They like pretty much any food, as they are non-dieted animals and they are scavengers.

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Tips

Make sure your neighbors are okay with you attracting crows to your yard.

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Tips from our Readers

The advice in this section is based on the lived experiences of wikiHow readers like you. If you have a helpful tip you’d like to share on wikiHow, please submit it in the field below.

Crows are extremely smart and can even hold grudges, so treat them well! Studies have shown that they can recognize the faces of people they've met/seen before.
Don't feed them bread, even soaked in water. It's basically the same as candy for kids -- bread will fill the crows up, but it's not very nutritious for them.

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Warnings

Avoid putting out food for more than 1 or 2 crows. If you attract more, you might wake up one day to find hundreds of crows in your neighborhood, causing a lot of chaos!

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