Since Crows and Jays are smart birds making friends with them is a good idea or they could be diving at you or heckling for years….
Urban@UWThe “Friend or Foe” Factor
Grudges: If they perceive you as a threat, they may “scold” or “mob” you when you walk by. Most significantly, they can pass this information to their offspring and other flock members, meaning a bad reputation can spread and persist for generations.
ScienceDirect.comFriendships: On the positive side, they recognize and reward “caregiver” humans. Regular feeders have even documented receiving small “gifts” like beads, buttons, or shiny trinkets.
FacebookSafe Ways to Befriend Them
If you choose to build a relationship, it is recommended to do so respectfully without causing dependency:
Keep Your Distance: Avoid staring directly, which can be seen as predatory.
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Offer Healthy Treats: Use unsalted peanuts (in the shell is fine), hard-boiled eggs, or meat scraps. Avoid bread, which offers no nutritional value.
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Consistency over Quantity: Establish a predictable routine rather than feeding them large amounts. This prevents them from becoming reliant on you for their primary survival.
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Respect the “Wild”: Experts from Birds & Blooms caution against over-taming, as birds that lose their fear of humans may wander into dangerous areas like busy roads.
Birds and Blooms
| Species | Max Wild Lifespan (Recorded) | Average Wild Lifespan |
|---|---|---|
| Blue Jay | 26 years | 7 years |
| Common Raven | 23 years | 10–15 years |
| American Crow | 17 years | 7–8 years |
| Northwestern Crow | 17 years | 12 years |
| Canada Jay | 16 years | 8–10 years |
| Florida Scrub-Jay | 15 years | 10 years |
| California Scrub-Jay | 15 years | 9 years |
| Pinyon Jay | 15 years | 10–12 years |
| Mexican Jay | 15 years | 10–12 years |
| Clark’s Nutcracker | 15 years | 10 years |
| Chihuahuan Raven | 15 years | 10–12 years |
| Woodhouse’s Scrub-Jay | 12 years | 9 years |
| Steller’s Jay | 11 years | 10 years |
| Island Scrub-Jay | 11 years | 9 years |
| Yellow-billed Magpie | 10 years | 5–10 years |
| Black-billed Magpie | 9 years | 4–6 years |
| Fish Crow | 9 years | 6–9 years |
| Green Jay | 8 years | 6 years |
| Brown Jay | Unknown (Est. 10+) | 10 years |
| Tamaulipas Crow | Unknown (Est. 6–10) | 6 years |
To cite this information, the most authoritative source is the USGS Bird Banding Laboratory (BBL), which maintains the official Longevity Records of North American Birds. This dataset is managed by the USGS Eastern Ecological Science Center and represents over a century of data from banded wild birds.
- Official Online Dataset:
- Reference: Lutmerding, J. A., and A. S. Love. (2025). Longevity Records of North American Birds. Version 2025.1. Patuxent Wildlife Research Center, Bird Banding Laboratory. View Site.
- Scientific Publications:
- For established historical records, the BBL often refers to the
Klimkiewicz & Futcher (1989)
supplement in the Journal of Field Ornithology.
- More recent updates are detailed in the North American Bird Banding Program Longevity Records (2024) by Walker et al..
- For established historical records, the BBL often refers to the
- Birds of the World (Cornell Lab of Ornithology): This is the definitive digital encyclopedia for bird life history. Each species account contains a section on “Demography and Populations” that includes lifespan data.
BOW, BOW, USGS
Animal Diversity Web (University of Michigan): Provides peer-reviewed summaries for species like the