You’ve probably heard it before. It’s one of those trivia facts that sticks in your brain because it sounds so unnecessarily dramatic. If you see a bunch of black birds hovering over a field, you aren't just looking at a flock. You're looking at a murder of crows.
It sounds like something out of a Victorian gothic novel. It’s dark. It’s slightly ominous. Honestly, it feels a bit unfair to the birds, who are actually some of the smartest creatures on the planet. But where did this name come from, and is it even the "correct" way to talk about them in 2026?
The truth is, while "murder" is the most famous term, it isn't the only one. Depending on who you ask—an ornithologist, a poet, or a casual backyard birdwatcher—the answer to what are a group of crows called changes quite a bit.
The Weird History of "Terms of Venery"
We have to go back to the 15th century to understand why we use such strange names for animal groups. Most of these collective nouns come from a tradition called "terms of venery," which were basically fancy labels used by English hunters and nobility. These weren't necessarily scientific. They were more like linguistic flair.
Think about it. A "pride" of lions. An "exaltation" of larks. A "parliament" of owls. These terms were collected in books like the Book of Saint Albans, printed in 1486. If you were a gentleman back then, you had to know these terms to prove you were educated. If you just said "a bunch of crows," people might have thought you were a peasant.
So, why "murder"?
It mostly comes down to folklore and the crow's historical reputation as a scavenger. Crows are often seen near battlefields, cemeteries, and hanging gallows. They have a knack for showing up where things are dying. In old English folklore, people believed that crows would hold "trials" for members of their flock who had done something wrong. If the "defendant" was found guilty, the rest of the group would supposedly peck them to death.
There is zero scientific evidence that crows hold formal courtrooms, but they are highly social and will mob predators or sick individuals. To a medieval peasant, that looked a lot like a murder.
Do Scientists Actually Use the Word "Murder"?
Short answer: Not really.
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If you sit down with a biologist like Kevin McGowan at the Cornell Lab of Ornithology—who has spent decades tracking individual crows—he’s probably just going to say "flock" or "family group." Science likes precision. "Murder" is a poetic term, a bit of colorful language that belongs in a book of idioms rather than a peer-reviewed journal.
In the world of biology, we usually refer to them as a flock. Or, if you want to get specific about their social structure, you might call them a family unit. Crows are intensely family-oriented. Unlike many birds that kick their kids out of the nest as soon as they can fly, young crows often stay with their parents for years. They help raise their younger siblings. They share food. They defend the territory.
Calling that a "murder" feels a bit like calling your family Thanksgiving dinner a "conspiracy." It's cool for a movie title, but it doesn't describe the reality of their lives.
What Are a Group of Crows Called During Winter?
The behavior of these birds shifts dramatically with the seasons. During the spring and summer, they are territorial. You’ll see them in small groups—just the mom, dad, and the kids from the last few years. This is your standard "family flock."
But winter changes everything.
When the sun goes down in January, crows from all over a region will travel miles to meet in one spot. This is called a communal roost. If you’ve ever seen thousands of crows descending on a single grove of trees or a suburban shopping center, you’ve seen a roost.
Why do they do this?
- Warmth: Thousands of bodies packed together raise the temperature of the immediate area.
- Safety: More eyes mean a better chance of spotting a Great Horned Owl in the dark.
- Information Sharing: Research suggests crows might actually "talk" to each other at these roosts, sharing info on where the best roadkill or trash cans are located.
In this context, calling them a "murder" feels almost too small. When you have 10,000 birds blocking out the sky in a massive winter roost, it’s an ecosystem in itself.
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The Intelligence Factor: Why They Deserve a Better Name
Crows are scary smart. This is a fact, not a myth. Their brain-to-body ratio is similar to that of primates. They use tools. They recognize human faces. If you are mean to a crow today, it will remember you tomorrow. It will also tell its friends.
In a famous study at the University of Washington, researchers wore "caveman" masks while trapping and banding crows. Later, when anyone wore that specific mask on campus, the crows would "scold" them—basically screaming at the top of their lungs to warn others. The birds who weren't even there during the trapping joined in. They had learned from their peers that the "caveman" was a threat.
This level of social intelligence is why what are a group of crows called matters. We tend to use names that reflect our fear of them rather than their actual nature. Some modern enthusiasts have suggested calling them a "brain trust" or a "convention."
Personally? I think "murder" is here to stay because humans love a good story. We love the imagery of the dark, clever bird that knows our secrets.
Other Common Misconceptions
People often confuse crows with ravens. While they are cousins (both are Corvids), they aren't the same.
A group of ravens isn't a murder. It’s an unkindness or a conspiracy. Ravens are larger, have wedge-shaped tails, and usually travel in pairs rather than massive flocks. If you see a hundred black birds in a field, they are almost certainly crows. If you see two giant ones in the deep woods making a deep "croak" instead of a "caw," those are ravens.
Then there are Rooks, which you’ll find in Europe. A group of rooks is a building.
It’s all very confusing, right? It’s basically a linguistic leftover from a time when we didn't have Netflix and had to spend our time making up weird names for every animal we saw in the woods.
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Practical Insights for Bird Enthusiasts
If you want to observe a group of crows and see their social dynamics in action, there are a few things you can do. Understanding their group behavior makes them a lot more interesting to have in your neighborhood.
1. Watch the sentry.
When a group is feeding on the ground, one crow will almost always be perched higher up in a tree. This is the sentry. Its only job is to watch for hawks or cats. If it gives a specific, harsh alarm call, the whole group will vanish in seconds.
2. Listen for the "Rattle."
Crows don't just "caw." They make a clicking, rattling sound that is often used within the family group. It's much quieter and more intimate. If you hear this, you are witnessing a close-knit social interaction.
3. Identify the "Mob."
If you see a group of crows diving at a hawk or an owl, you are seeing "mobbing" behavior. This is a defensive strategy. They use their numbers to harass a predator until it gets annoyed and leaves the area. It’s one of the few times a "murder" actually looks aggressive.
4. Respect the roost.
If you find a winter roost, don't disturb it. These birds have traveled a long way to find a safe place to sleep. If they are in your neighborhood and making a mess, remember that they are only there for the coldest months of the year.
Moving Forward With Your Crow Knowledge
The next time someone asks you what are a group of crows called, you can give them the fun answer (a murder) and the smart answer (a flock or a communal roost).
The takeaway here is that language often tells us more about humans than it does about animals. We called them a "murder" because we were superstitious. Today, we know they are complex, social, and deeply intelligent creatures. They aren't villains in a horror movie; they’re just very smart birds trying to take care of their families.
If you want to get more involved, start a "crow journal." Note how many birds visit your yard at certain times of day. You’ll quickly realize you aren't seeing random birds; you’re seeing the same individuals, the same "murder," navigating their world with a level of intention that most people never notice.
Actionable Next Steps
- Check for local roosts: Use an app like eBird to see if there are massive winter roosts near your city. Seeing one in person is a bucket-list item for any nature lover.
- Test their memory: If you want to make friends with a group of crows, leave out unsalted peanuts in the shell at the same time every day. Just don't wear a mask if you plan on being mean.
- Observe the tail: Learn to distinguish the fan-shaped tail of a crow from the wedge-shaped tail of a raven so you can use the right collective noun in the field.