Crows: Encounters with the Wise Guys (Hardcover)

~ (Author)
Key Phrases: common raven, other ravens, cooperative breeding, New Caledonian, Northern Hemisphere (more...)

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

In this charming introduction to the genus Corvus, Savage consolidates scientific research with myths and legends, to attest to the cleverness of crows, ravens, rooks and jackdaws. Savage begins with reports of tool-use by crows in New Guinea; they not only use bits of twig to dig insects out of narrow holes, but they also shape the twigs to form hooks that grab insects and prevent them from escaping. As legends show, humans have been fascinated by crows for thousands of years, and the raven plays a prominent role in many aboriginal creation myths. Synthesizing science and storytelling, Savage shows that the ancient image of crow-as-trickster bears out among contemporary researchers, who have observed such crow behavior as misrepresentation and misdirection. In addition, some species of crow show evidence of language skills and even artistic sensibility (as in the case of a winged shell collector). They also exhibit cooperative child-rearing, as well as grieving behavior after losing a mate or chick. Though this illuminating book ends too quickly, readers wishing to follow up on the clever Corvus will be quite pleased with Savage's detailed footnotes and lengthy list of references.
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. --This text refers to the Paperback edition.

Product Description

Based on more than a decade of research, Crows offers an accurate, humorous, and wide-ranging introduction to these fascinating birds. Who would have guessed that there are more than 40 species of ravens and crows, all variations on a theme, cawing and croaking their way through the woodlands of North America, Europe, Asia, Africa, Australia, and various South Sea islands? (Of the temperate continents, only South America doesn’t know the charms of these amusing, intelligent birds.) Topics explored include evolution, distribution, diet and food-getting practices (including their ingenious use of tools), social behavior (including the many crow "languages"), and impact on the human imagination, as reflected in mythology, literature, and popular aphorisms. Appealing to both the avid birder or the more casual nature lover, Crows is rich in insight, humor, and stories.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 120 pages
• Publisher: Greystone Books (October 6, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1553651065
• ISBN-13: 978-1553651062
• Product Dimensions: 8.5 x 6.5 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (14 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #454,623 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

20 of 21 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Fascinating Tricksters, March 8, 2006

By	S. Engel "Sagefire" (Nashua, NH USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Amazon Verified Purchase

If you, like me, love the image of Crows as "swaggering black-clad wise guys", then this book is for you!
Candace Savage's book is not an acedemic tome, or a scientific study..it's a wonderful, witty, captivating exploration into these amazing birds.
The many beautiful illustrations, including several by Arthur Rackham, as well as Pacific Northwest Indian designs, are a treasure in themselves, and her inclusion of myths and legends of this fabled bird make this book an incredible treat. I laughed and cackled all the way through it!

20 of 22 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Fascinating Corvid Compilation!, January 28, 2006

By	Dawn Killen-Courtney (St. Louis Park,, MN United States) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Candace Savage writes about crows the way I think about them; with a great appreciation for their astonishing intelligence, an insight into their dark depths, and their wry humor (yes, they're that smart.) She also gathered together a visual feast spanning centuries and cultures that showcase human's fascination and sense of kinship with crows. She's got the best of the corvid researchers thoughts in here, but most enjoyable of all is her own writing and obvious love for this darkly gleaming tribe that continues to thrive right along side us.
I highly recommend this work, and Ms. Savage should be very proud of what she accomplished with it.

13 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Crows: Encounters with the Wise Guys, February 17, 2006

By	Barbara Lambert Hale "barbstur" (MA, USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

I love this book. It is beautifully done. When I ordered it, I was looking for a book with an overview of the intelligence of Crows and that is exactly what I got...along with beautiful pictures and interesting folk tales about corvids. This book is a good stepping off point for people who have a casual interest and would like to get started learning about crows. There is a very good listing of books in the back of this book for further reading about these magnificant birds.