Do Crows Like Shiny Things? Myth or Reality?

Last Updated on Jan 23 2023

Crows Are Actually Afraid of Shiny Things

Opposite of what is told as folklore, most crows act as if they are afraid of shiny things. Some crows fly away from anything shiny that they come across. Others do not seem to be alarmed by it, but they do not show any attraction to it. Shiny things typically mean danger to crows because of the inconsistent lighting that they regurgitate into the atmosphere. One second, a shiny thing is bright and eye-blinding, and the next second, it is dark and curious. Crows do not usually want to stick around to find out what a shiny thing will do next.

Crows May Try to Damage Shiny Things

Some crows make it a point to damage shiny things when they come into contact with them. You may see a crow kicking or pecking at a shiny object that is lingering in your yard. Or you might see a crow divebomb a shiny object that they see inside a window of your home or car. However, crows tend to prefer staying far away from shiny things whenever possible.

Some people even use shiny things such as old CDs and disposable aluminum pans to detract crows from entering their yards. These objects are hung from trees and homes throughout the property to minimize the chance that crows will come and stay.

Here’s What Actually Attracts Crows

The only thing that effectively attracts crows is food. These opportunistic birds will go just about anywhere to get their beaks on an easy meal. When crows find a place to hang out where people often leave food scraps behind, like in a park, chances are that the crows will spend most of their time there. Some people like to attract crows to their yards because they help clean up fallen berries, unwanted insects, and even rats. Attracting crows to your yard is easy — just leave whole-grain bread or fruit out in the yard. The crows are sure to find it!

Crows Sometimes Offer Shiny Rewards

There are times when a crow will not shy away from something small and shiny. Sometimes, crows seemingly decide to leave gifts for people who are kind to them and feed them. One lady in San Francisco who feeds a group of crows that hang out on her fire escape regularly receives gifts from the crows. Some of the gifts are shiny, like champagne bottle wrappers. Crows might offer up colorful rocks, nuts, and shells as gifts too.

Conclusion

Crows are smart, sociable, and extremely aware of their environments. Now that we have established that they do not fancy shiny things, we can make adjustments to our property accordingly. When it comes to crows, avoiding shiny objects is more likely than attacking them. So, there is no reason to worry about the expensive shiny wind chime that you have hanging outside.

• You may also want to read: Do Crows Make Good Pets? 7 Things You Need to Know!

Featured Image Credit: Piqsels