Crows will crush an ant and rub it all over themselves like perfume--the formic acid in the ants helps ward off parasites

Did you know that crows will crush an ant and rub it all over themselves like perfume–the formic acid in the ants helps ward off parasites.

 

In our last top ten fact list about Crows we highlighted corvids from a scientific angle – they are intelligent, persistent, prolific, and hardy. In this list, we want to explore some of the stranger things about our favorite critter. Without further ado:

1. 
    Crows living in suburban areas require only 10% of the nesting territory that crows living in in the wilderness do, and are much more tolerant of range overlap. They also will build fake nests to fool predators.
   


2. Dubbed ‘Anting’ by John Marzluff, crows will crush an ant and rub it all over themselves like perfume! The Formic Acid in the ants helps ward off parasites.


3. 
    Pet crows give their owners names. This is identified by a unique sound they make around specific people that they would not otherwise make.
   


4. 
    Female Crows mate for life, but males will cheat, which explains the next one:
   


5. 
    Male crows have no penis. Their sperm is transferred from their cloaca to the female cloaca and copulation only lasts 15 seconds. Its a wonder the females are so loyal!
   

 

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Crows will crush an ant and rub it all over themselves like perfume--the formic acid in the ants helps ward off parasites