Why Do Crows Bring Gifts?

Are They Naturally Generous?
Or Do They Have Ulterior Motives?

By Richard Worden


While crows might be seen as pests who leave their droppings all over the place, they have some redeeming qualities that can endear them to the humans who care for them. You might have seen cartoon versions of crows finding things and leaving them as gifts, but you might be interested to know that this mimics real life. Why do crows bring gifts, though?

Crows bring gifts as reciprocation for being fed. It’s unknown whether this is a genuine connection with the person providing for them or if they are mimicking their biological need to bring gifts and food to other crows during mating season, but they will do it nonetheless.

Read on to learn more about crows and their gift-giving, why they bring gifts, what their contributions look like, and how you can befriend your local crows to develop a gift-giving relationship with them. Just be careful not to attract the whole flock.

Why do Crows bring gifts?

Do Crows Bring Gifts to Humans?

Crows do bring gifts to humans, but there’s no scientific evidence for why this happens. Everything you might have heard about this is anecdotal, so we don’t know for sure if the gifts are intentional or accidental.

The phenomenon of crows bringing humans gifts is heavily debated among animal behavior specialists. 

Scientists warn of projecting human emotions onto animals. While crows may bring humans gifts as a form of reciprocation and gratitude, the trinkets they leave behind could be exceptional cases or even accidental. 

However, they definitely do it, so if you are willing to overlook their motives, then exchanging gifts with crows can be an excellent use of your time.

Now, there is no way of knowing why crows leave gifts. There have been theories about crows' mating habits and an exploration into crows' similar concepts of loyalty to humans. However, it is indisputable that they have done it to people on enough separate occasions that a correlation can no longer be ignored. 

Crow on a perch


Crows are smart birds, yet how do they compare intelligence wise to other animals...such as dogs? We think you'll crow about our Crows vs. Dogs article here!

What Kind of Gifts Do Crows Bring?

Crows bring all kinds of gifts to humans. Sometimes they are largely unwanted, like the kind you would get from a cat, and other times they are genuinely impressive DIY projects. Often, a crow will bring you something shiny they found on the ground.

The type of gift you receive isn't an indicator of how much they like you, so don't worry if you haven't received anything fancy from your bird friend.

Most of the time, gifts from crows are shiny objects that they have found on the ground. 

They may seem useless to us, but to the crow, they bring you their greatest treasure, which is a high honor indeed. These items range from sparkly beads falling off garments to rusty nails from the ground. 

You rarely get anything valuable, although the occasional coin may be thrown in the mix.

If you’re lucky, the crow may even make you a gift out of multiple discoveries. These gifts aren't especially advanced, but the crow has put special effort into crafting these for you. Some people have reported objects that are specially made, usually made from sticks and shiny things. 

For example, one person found a ring pulled around a bunch of twigs outside their door multiple days in a row.

What Does It Mean When a Crow Brings You a Gift?

When crows bring you a gift, it means that it’s a symbol of loyalty. Though nothing has been proven, when a crow gives you a gift, they’re indicating that they’re aware that you are helping them, and they appreciate it. It may also be a bribe or payment of sorts to ensure you keep feeding them.

Crows often bring gifts to their mates. The type of gift humans have found, which is usually pieces of scrap metal and sticks,  is the same gift that a crow would give to a potential mate. Because feeding is a large part of the mating ritual, it has been thought that crows associate being fed with gift-giving, which is why you may receive a present for providing for them.

What Does It Mean Spiritually if a Crow Brings You a Gift?

Spiritually, the crow represents transformation. 

If a crow has decided to show particular attention to you, it might be because it senses a significant change in your life. While crows are often associated with death and seen as bad omens, they are symbols of rebirth and renewal, so they don't have to be seen as evil.

If a crow is paying you lots of attention, then you need to pay attention to your spiritual guides. Looking out for these changes will help you to navigate significant spiritual transformations in your life. It can be your sign to let go of the past and embrace new beginnings.

How Do You Get Crows To Bring You a Gift?

There's no surefire way to get a crow to bring you gifts. While there have been several stories about crows bringing gifts, they don't commonly do it. However, there are a few things that you can try.

To get crows to bring you a gift, try leaving food out for them. Crows eat several things, but people have reported leaving dried cat food out as a treat for the crows and receiving gifts in return.

Local crows may develop loyalty toward the people they see most. Especially if they can get something out of it. 

It’s important not to expect anything in return. If you want to care for the crows in your area by leaving food and water, they will be grateful for that. However, if you do it with the expectation of gifts, you may be sorely disappointed. 

Crow on a perch

To get Crows to bring you a gift you have to have Crows around in the first place. Since the way to a Crow's heart is through its stomach, you'll need to learn what foods they like, learn all about the Crow's favorite foods here!

Do Crows Like Gifts?

Crows like gifts, as they exchange gifts during the mating stage. It’s well known that they enjoy shiny objects, so leaving your old rusty nails and bolts out in the garden is not a good place to start if you want to leave a crow a gift. 

The best thing that you can do for crows is to feed them. 

Crows are omnivores, so they may not be interested in regular bird feed, though they will eat it if necessary. Putting out protein-packed foods is the best for them. Dried animal feed is a great choice, like pet food. 

They also appreciate high-protein, non-meat items like eggs or peanuts. 

Be careful, though. Crows are excellent communicators, and if they have somebody feeding them, they are bound to tell their friends. It’s impossible to befriend just one crow, so if you’re thinking of leaving out gifts for them, make sure you are prepared for several crows to show up on your doorstep before long.

Crow on a perch

To further expand upon what Crows like beyond food, we wrote this article which gives many more ideas on what you might offer them to better have a chance to become gift-giving buddies. Read our article here on What Do Crows Like.

Why Do Crows Bring Gifts...Final Thoughts

Crows can be wonderful friends and charming companions if you treat them right. While you might not get an incredibly valuable object out of your relationship with the crow, it can be a wholesome experience to trade gifts and look after the welfare of your new friend.

We don't yet know with any certainty the answer to the age-old question, “Why do crows bring gifts?” But whatever the reason, it makes for a wonderful hobby. Just be careful that you don't get in out of your depth!


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About Me


About the Author...
Richard Worden, a dedicated bird lover for over 20 years, I love to share my in-depth knowledge and passion for birds. Read more About Me and my expertise in this field.

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