While Corvids are arguably the most common and recognizable of the birds of the world they are also some of the least noticed and least understood. They have always been admired for their intelligence, yes, but the extent of that intelligence is still being uncovered bit by bit. They make tools, they play, they seem to have a rudimentary language with over 20 recognized calls that we can attribute meanings to as well as identifying calls that appear to be names. They have what appear to be funerals, and semi-annual gatherings where they talk about who knows what. They're unusual, to put it mildly, and exceptionally long-lived.

We've shared our lives with these animals, revered them, hated them, but always respected them. Some of the earliest cultures and traditions seem to peer at us from ages past hinting at crow cults. Our folktales are full of them, always portrayed in such a changeable and varied way that they remain impossible to pin down - much like they are in real lives. Their behaviors are such that they can alter them as they know they're being observed. Yet we rarely think about them, and isn't that a shame?

This book collects a vast amount of folkloric and literal history to trace our relationship with crows from the darkest past to the modern day. What emerges is delightful, chimeric, and only too thought-provoking. Much like the animal itself, it defies easy explanation. I can't get enough of reading about crows, and this book is a great introduction to them for anyone keen on that bird. ( )

As the blurb on the back says, this series is addictive. Crow is a wide-ranging and entertaining look at the biology and lore of corvids, beginning with the species' first appearence in Australia and subsequent spread to the other continents all the way up to "The Crow" with Brandon Lee. I would highly recommend it for anyone with an interest in these birds. ( )