Crows are members of the genus Corvus. They exist on every continent except Antarctica. Most species can live around two decades in the wild. In captivity, a crow may live much longer.
In the Wild
The life span of any bird in the wild depends largely on the bird's ability to evade predators. With that in mind, the Animal Ageing and Longevity Database shows that an American crow can expect to live around 20 years. Dr. Kevin J. McGowan of the Cornell Lab of Ornithology reports that the oldest crow with a verifiable life span reached the age of 29.
In Captivity
Crows in captivity may live much longer than the average, but very few trustworthy records exist. According to the "Washington Post," a crow named Tata who died in 2006 may have been 59 years old, based on anecdotal testimony. Experts could not verify her age.
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Milton Kazmeyer has worked in the insurance, financial and manufacturing fields and also served as a federal contractor. He began his writing career in 2007 and now works full-time as a writer and transcriptionist. His primary fields of expertise include computers, astronomy, alternative energy sources and the environment.
