Crow Funerals

Crow Mournings: Honoring Fallen Flock Members

Research suggests that crows often gather and call when they encounter a dead crow. This behavior may help living birds learn about danger around them; what looks like a funeral does not necessarily mean the birds mourn the way humans do.

The original Crow Society page features the story “What I learned from a dead crow”, attributed there to Rachel Thompson. It recounts how she found a dead crow, laid it near a tree, and watched other crows gather and call nearby over the following days.

The story is a personal account, not a scientific conclusion about reincarnation or crow spirituality. It reflects how meaningful these encounters can feel to people who care about birds.

You can also watch a short film about scientific observations of so-called crow funerals: