Crows readily eat blueberries. The American Crow, an intelligent species found across North America, consumes blueberries as part of its varied diet. This opportunistic feeding behavior allows them to thrive in diverse environments, from wildlands to urban settings. A ripe blueberry is an easily accessible, energy-rich food source, making cultivated bushes a tempting target for foraging.
Context of the Crow’s Omnivorous Diet
Crows are classic omnivores, meaning their diet naturally includes both plant and animal matter, and they are not particularly selective about their meals. Their foraging habits are driven by availability, leading them to consume a wide array of foods depending on the season and location.
Plant-based foods include seeds, grains, nuts, and a variety of wild and cultivated fruits. Crows also actively hunt or scavenge for insects, small mammals like mice and voles, frogs, and the eggs and nestlings of other birds. This flexibility is a survival mechanism; they capitalize on whatever feeding opportunities arise, which is why a cluster of cultivated blueberries is instantly recognized as a viable resource. They can sustain themselves on nearly anything edible they can find, including human refuse and carrion.
Factors That Make Blueberries Attractive
Crows and other birds are drawn to blueberries for specific biological and nutritional reasons that make the fruit highly appealing. The dark blue color and soft texture signal ripeness, which is easily visible and consumable for a foraging bird. Blueberries offer a combination of high water and sugar content, providing both hydration and a quick burst of energy.
The simple sugars found in the berries are easily digestible, making them an efficient fuel source, especially during demanding periods like nesting or migration. The high water content is a source of moisture in the summer heat. The absence of a hard shell or large pit also means the fruit requires minimal effort to consume, allowing the crow to quickly gather and process a large amount of food.
Practical Ways to Protect Berries from Crows
The most reliable method for protecting blueberry crops from crow predation is exclusion, which involves physically preventing access to the plants. Durable bird netting is the standard tool, but it must have a small mesh size, ideally around one-quarter inch, to be fully effective. The netting should not be simply draped over the bushes; instead, it should be supported by a frame or cage built around the plants to prevent entanglement or pecking through the mesh.
Visual deterrents, such as reflective tape or inflatable balloons, can temporarily scare crows away due to unexpected movement and glare. However, since crows are highly intelligent, they quickly recognize that stationary threats are harmless, a phenomenon known as habituation. To maximize the effect of these deterrents, they must be moved or changed frequently to maintain the illusion of a new threat. Another strategy involves harvesting fruit immediately when it is ripe, or even slightly early, to remove the target food source before the crows have a chance to forage.