Common name for members of family Corvidae, which includes ravens, crows, magpies, rooks, jackdaws, nutcrackers and jays. Ravens, crows, rooks, jackdaws belong to Genus Corvus.
As a group, corvids are generally social birds and are considered to be remarkably intelligent. In New Zealand scientists have observed crows not only using, but making tools for the purpose of capturing food. Crows on the campus of UC Davis drop walnuts in the paths of oncoming cars, allowing the cars' tires to crush the walnuts, afterwhich the crows retrieved the nutmeat. Ravens and crows have kept as pets and even been taught to mimic human speech.