Making friends with the crows

[CCoburn]

... And of course, I would have liked to discuss the words "murder of crows"... it seems such an odd choice for a collective designation.

To me it 'feels' kind of fitting since it's crows. I have vague recollection of these appearing numerous times in movies/television throughout the decades whenever something sinister is/has taken place - such as "murder" of course. The Omen trilogy with its malevolent storyline comes to mind.

A couple years back when the crows had gathered across the street here my neighbor even made a comment that "somebody was up to no good", and I did feel just a slight tinge of guilt for having indulged in so much occult content even though it wasn't anything "sinister" and mostly along the lines of the philosophical/metaphysical.

I'm sure my recollection is mixed with Ravens as well where a group of those is referred as an "unkindness or conspiracy". Ravens are larger and I would assume that they are more solitary than crows or at least travel in smaller groups.

I would guess the associations might be largely due their all dark/black plumage but from what I understand they are very intelligent and can be quite cordial.

Some also say the origin of the "murder" terminology comes from their scavenging nature, but I don't really think of them as scavengers.