why is a group of crows called a murder?
106797
*Hunting a tiny bit* A "murder" of crows is based on the persistent but fallacious folk tale that crows form tribunals to judge and punish the bad behavior of a member of the flock. If the verdict goes against the defendant, that bird is killed (murdered) by the flock. The basis in fact is probably that occasionally crows will kill a dying crow who doesn't belong in their territory or much more commonly feed on carcasses of dead crows. Also, both crows and ravens are associated with battlefields, medieval hospitals, execution sites and cemeteries (because they scavenged on human remains). In England, a tombstone is sometimes called a ravenstone. http://www.ascaronline.org/crowfaq.html#faq1
830465
Dunno..Why is it when a pregnant woman is murdered, it's double murder?
335507
It's actually "Thou shalt not murder."\n\nLet me elaborate.  A "murder" is an unlawful killing.  For example, in the New Testament, Christ says that if a person hate without a cause, that person has murdered in his heart.  The operative words are "without a cause."\n\nGod ordered certain peoples to be killed because they had become so sinful, so evil, that they were hurting themselves and people around them.  For example, one king had conquered 40 other kings, cut off their thumbs and big toes, and then had them scavange for food under his table.\n\nEver try to pick up food with out thumbs or walk without big toes?\n\nWhat will become of the peoples God wiped out?  The Bible says that these people will be ressurrected.  They aren't banished to hell fire.  They will all be raised from the dead and have a chance to do better.\n\nSo it's really like God forcing them to take a nap until He can deal with them.
23695
"What's the difference between crows and ravens?\nRavens are about 1/3 larger than crows. They have somewhat heavier bills, more fan-shaped tails, sometimes they have a ruff (mane) of feathers around the throat. But essentially, crows and ravens are identical in color, shape - and most importantly - behavior.\n\nCrows and ravens are competitors, and both species are seldom found in the same locale. Ravens are most often found in heavily wooded, mountainous, cold, or desert regions. Crows may be spotted in more temperate, mixed habitat areas.\n\nNorthern ravens (those of Arizona) are transglobal, and found around the world. There are 42 species of crows and ravens (corvidae) found in all parts of the world from the arctic to the tropics, excepting (for reasons known only to God) South America.\n\nMost of them are very similar, predominantly black birds. The American crow is typical, and found throughout the United States, except Hawaii. Other US species include the fish crow (a bit smaller than the common crow) found mostly in southeastern coastal and riparian regions; the Pacific Northwest crows are much like the American crow, and, in fact, may be (according to one's favorite taxonomist) only a subspecies."
473774
By killing a crow without "shooting" it, you are potentially in violation of your states fish and game laws.\n\nAt least in my state, to kill a crow you must:\n\n1.  Hold a valid hunting license\n2.  The animal must have an open season (we have a crow season).\n3.  The animal must be harvested using a legal hunting method (i.e. trapping, shooting, etc).  Killing a bird using rice is not only illegal, it is unethical.
985593
its just an urban myth. some people say that someone in the crew hung themselves from a tree during one of the scenes in the dwarf village, but its really just a bird taking flight. sorry if i ruined it for you.
1135317
If it's a medium-sized, rather ugly mottled black/brown bird that congregates in the evenings to form a roost community then it may be grackles.  They have no song, just a rather raucous squawking call and when they gather by the hundreds in the trees nearby, they are a nuisance of the first order.  Much worse than pidgeons.  We have them in Texas and I believe that at different times of the year they plague most of the US.
1095689
With so many of your amazing Corvids having had their numbers decimated by WNV I am quite stunned at that rather unpleasant response.\nHow sad that people thrive on hatred and viscious responses.They are to be pitied I suppose ......their lives are very narrow and they are unable to experience joy in the company of a fellow living creature.\nThank goodness there are so many who have a less prejudiced and blinkered view.
120920
You should enjoy watching them, they are a sign that nature is recovering in your area. I know of no wives tales or superstitions about hawks (ravens and crows and vultures, that's another story.)\n\nAlso, hawks only eat fresh, so it definately doesn't mean there's road kill around.
1184259
It is kind of a three-legged crow which has been a part of the mythology of many countries, including Egypt and China. In Japan it is called Yatagarasu and it is the bird of the sun goddess Amaterasu.\n\nThanks for bringing that up, I had never thought about it!
387984
im guessing one of the crazy girls that had half of thier town killed because they didnt like the people. called them witches and the people got burnt at the stake(nice girls)
390711
The new silver black gorilla kills the unrelated infants of his new group because by doing so he is able to mate with its mother and bring its own progeny.cause the females donot mate when they are nurturing a baby and that period can be for atleast 2 years and so the male silver back kills unrelated infants to have his own.The male do not kill their own children
32953
Yes.\n\nA second meaning of the word is a "flock of crows".
989807
~Poor little buggers can't keep up.  Gives the crows something to eat.  I know some people who could learn from our furry cousins.
443640
They allways hunt in group, sorrounding their victim, very helpful for killing bigger animals like mooses etc.
249091
absolutely.. if they are capable of murder, the authoraties need to know before it happens again.  It will be hard, but imagine how much worse you'd feel if they murdered several other people as well, and you had the ability to stop it.
704951
Yes, it's called murder.