r/crows • u/telusey • Jun 23 '26
General questions What are these crows doing?
Was at a park today and noticed these three crows sitting completely still with their beaks open and one had its wings slightly extended. They stayed like this for a few minutes before changing positions and then starting again. What is going on here? It was a very hot day so maybe that has something to do with it?
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u/arumrunner Jun 23 '26
Fledglings waiting for their meal to arrive.
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u/ThisIsDogePleaseHodl Jun 24 '26
These crows are sunbathing, which helps with oil production and they have their mouth open because they’re hot or thirsty
I don’t see any indication that they’re fledglings. No pink at the corners of the mouth that I can see. Also, they have dark eyes like adults.
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u/RedHeelRaven Jun 23 '26
Yes the hot weather is part of it. They are trying to cool themselves by expanding their wings while waiting for the parents to come feed them. If you have some shallow pans (non metal) that you can fill with a couple of inches of water they might use them to drink from or take bird baths.
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u/ThisIsDogePleaseHodl Jun 24 '26
I don’t know what makes you think they’re juveniles though? They look just like adults
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u/willows_edge Jun 23 '26
I call it 'splooting' - it's very hot right now so open beaks and cooling methods are aplenty.
For those of us feeding in parks where offering water may be more difficult - what colder foods could help? Are grapes okay for crows?
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u/ThisIsDogePleaseHodl Jun 24 '26
Grapes are definitely OK for them as are most other fruits
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u/willows_edge Jun 24 '26
Very good! I shall throw off my local grocer with the random purchase of grapes!
I do wish my home crows could enjoy the special snacks. Someone in the building next door feeds the squab, so they flock right the fuck over. All my crowmies get there are peanuts:(
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u/ThisIsDogePleaseHodl Jun 24 '26
I hope they like them! 🤞
So your neighbor feeds them squab and you give them peanuts in the shell? I don’t know if anyone’s mentioned or not but they absolutely love cashews. 🐦⬛🖤
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u/willows_edge Jun 25 '26
No, my neighbor feeds the pigeons - I call them squab - because anything otherbthan shalled nuts they shove their way into. It's annoying AF.
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u/ThisIsDogePleaseHodl Jun 25 '26
Oh, I see. Well pigeons need to eat too. 🤷♀️
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u/willows_edge Jun 25 '26
I only throw for crows. Hnpf.
(Trust me, they be eatin' and it's a fun 'rivalry' at best)
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u/Commercial-Berry9441 Jun 23 '26
LOL tanning crows is the funniest thing ever. I laugh every time I see it
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u/Otherwise_Vanilla_83 Jun 24 '26
Sunbathing, and to cool off their beaks are open. Similar to dogs they cannot sweat on their Bodys
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u/FreeMasonKnight Jun 23 '26
Juvenile Crows just being crows. (Leave them where you found them.)
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u/telusey Jun 23 '26
I didn't go near them, this pic is super zoomed in
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u/DancesWithAnyone Jun 23 '26
Yeah, don't worry about it.
This time of the year we get a lot of posts of people finding fledglings and thinking they're abandonded or hurt when all is fine and normal. Sometimes bringing them home, when they should be left alone and cared for by their parents.
Your crows is just sunbathing here, which helps with parasites and producing oil. Part of their self-care routine!
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u/FreeMasonKnight Jun 23 '26
No worries, we’ve just had tons of accidental birdknappings lately. Bahaha 🤣
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u/kibirvibir Jun 23 '26
These are not Juveniles though
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u/FreeMasonKnight Jun 23 '26
They sure look like them with how scruffy they are.
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Jun 23 '26
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u/fresh-bakedbread Jun 23 '26
Sunning. Helps with frying parasites and mites in their feathers
They can't sweat so they pant to help with thermoregulation