Have you ever seen crows peck at branches?
Some even break them, pick up, or just randomly peck at things.
Other people also claim that crows usually do it whenever they are encountering someone passing by near them.
Anyone can argue that this specific crow behavior is pretty intriguing.
Crows are often seen pecking at branches or at a few other things.
Sometimes, they even break off and pick up tree branches.
It might seem weird, especially since they are not going to take their eyes off you when they are perching on a branch while pecking.
This could mean that they see you or something as a potential predator.
However, they also break off tree branches and even pick up twigs to build their nests.
Let’s get into more detail
Why Do Crows Peck At Tree Branches?
Crows peck at tree branches whenever they see someone as a threat.
There are also cases where these black birds also wipe the side of their beak on a branch, pulling off twigs, dropping branches, or knocking off some barks.
This kind of behavior is normal among corvid species like crows.
These actions are also a sign of a displacement behavior among birds.
It happens when there are two opposing forces that an animal experiences, resulting in another third action as its coping mechanism.
As explained, it can be said that a crow pecks at a branch to ease their anxiety that you are a threat since they want to drive you away, but can’t do so.
This is often the case whenever they see you spotting near their nesting area.
Crows are extremely intelligent birds and they are easily wary of potential threats and predators to their offspring.
Pecking at tree branches could be a sign of them being wary and thinking to throw you off to leave their territory.
Why Do Crows Break Off Branches?
It is typical to see crows breaking off branches.
It is said that pecking, breaking, and carrying tree branches could also indicate that they are trying to pick them up to build their nesting areas in a higher area.
Crows begin to build their nest early in March until June and they usually use branches, twigs, and other material they see in making a comfortable nest for their eggs.
They usually build their nest in high areas like a really tall tree.
Crows’ nests are also placed in many possible places whether in trees, tall buildings, or anywhere within their reach.
Crows break off branches that are mostly pencil-width in making their nests.
It will also usually take them for around 1-2 weeks picking and breaking off tree branches to successfully build their laying place and home to take care of their eggs.
Related article I think you will find interesting – How to stop crows pecking at my car?
Why Do Crows Peck At Things?
Have you ever seen a crow pecking at things whether a twig, a branch, grass, tree bark, or flowers?
It is most likely for their nest and they are collecting any material they deem to be great as their nest foundation.
Sometimes they might even drop these things all of a sudden from their beaks.
The reason would most likely be because the crow rejects the material or it spots another better twig or lining material to use, letting the one in its beak fall to the ground.
Wrapping Up
Crows are intelligent birds, so seeing them pecking at tree branches or at random things might seem pretty unreasonable for you.
However, they actually have a good reason behind those actions.
It could be because they see a potential predator and pecking at branches is their way to relieve their anxiety.
It is especially the case when the area is their territory or nesting place.
On the other hand, pecking at branches could also mean picking up a lining material for their nest.
Crows take at least 1 to 2 weeks to build their nests.
They peck at different random things and sometimes break off branches to use as the foundation for their eggs.
Be careful when you spot their territory as they might do something bad to you as a way of protecting themselves.
