Question #20262. Asked by Squak.
Last updated Aug 29 2021.
Fosse4
Answer has 1 vote
Fosse4
Answer has 1 vote.
A group of crows is known as a Murder. (Don''t know why!)
Jul 02 2002, 8:33 PM
Bill
Answer has 1 vote
Bill 15 year member
30 replies
Answer has 1 vote.
If you've ever seen a group of crows it is quite a sinister sight. They look as if they are plotting something very dark like a murder, perhaps your own...
Jul 02 2002, 8:45 PM
gothem1
Answer has 19 votes
gothem1
Answer has 19 votes.
It is called a murder for two reasons. 1st if an injured strange crow finds its way into the territory of a familiar 'murder', that crow is likely to be killed or murdered; 2nd when a 'flock' is flying in a pattern they usually do so in a "W" shaped, thus the first letter of murder.
There are several different explanations for the origin of this term, mostly based on old folk tales and superstitions :
•For instance, there is a folktale that crows will gather and decide the capital fate of another crow.
•Many view the appearance of crows as an omen of death because ravens and crows are scavengers and are generally associated with dead bodies, battlefields, and cemeteries, and they’re thought to circle in large numbers above sites where animals or people are expected to soon die.
•But the term “murder of crows” mostly reflects a time when groupings of many animals had colorful and poetic names.
Response last updated by postcards2go on Aug 21 2016.
Sep 08 2009, 8:47 PM
ozfei
Answer has 17 votes
ozfei 19 year member
112 replies
Answer has 17 votes.
One explanation is because a group of crows will sometimes kill a dying crow.