9 February 2026
This morning when I saw a distant flock of crows stream from the roost to the Mon River valley I knew the winter crow party was still having fun. Local groundskeepers and building managers are thinking “murderous” thoughts about the roost but now, just when humans have had enough, the crows will naturally disappear.
While the days are getting longer, crows think about going home to breed. In March they will act on it, the roost will dissolve, and the party will be over until next November.
To explain what’s happening, let’s look at their annual cycle in southwestern Pennsylvania. The crows’ New Year begins in Spring.
All year long established pairs stay in family groups with their kids.
- In March established pairs migrate home to breed and new pairs migrate to find a territory. In spring an established family group is parents + youngest kids (usually a group of 4; the kids are helpers). New pairs in their first breeding season have no kids yet (a group of 2).
- March to June — on territory — is the secretive phase of crow family life. They are quietly busy building a nest, incubating eggs, hatching young, and feeding them in the nest. Crows don’t want you to know they are there. They seem to be completely gone.
- When crow nestlings fledge in late May/June they are loud! Suddenly crows are obvious.
- July to August crow families remain at home while the youngsters learn. (Family groups of usually 6 crows.)
- September kicks off fall migration and overwintering time.
- September to October crows migrate slowly south to their overwintering site. Eastern crows travel an average of 287 miles to the site. What places could they be coming from that are 287 miles away from Pittsburgh? Two examples: Kingston at Lake Ontario and Barrie, Ontario near Lake Huron, both in Canada.
- November to February: Let’s Party! Crows gather at the winter roost. The roost may move around during that period.
- In March it’s time to go home.
Enjoy the crows in mid-latitude cities now before they’re gone.
See this Facebook video by Mary Ann Thomas about Pittsburgh’s crow party.
And here’s how Portland, Oregon celebrates their winter crows.
