Editing Corvidae (section)

==Relationship with humans==
Several different corvids, particularly [[raven]]s, have occasionally served as [[pets]], although they are not able to speak as readily as [[parrot]]s, and are not suited to a caged environment.

It is illegal to own corvids, or any other [[migratory bird]], without a permit in North America, due to the [[Migratory Bird Act]].

Humans have been able to coexist with many members of the Corvidae family throughout history, most notably [[crows]] and [[raven]]s (see: "Role in myth and culture" section below). These positive interactions have extended into modern times.

===Role in myth and culture===
{{See also|Cultural depictions of ravens}}
Folklore often represents corvids as clever, and even mystical, animals. Some [[Native Americans in the United States|Native Americans]], such as the [[Haida people|Haida]], believed that a raven created the earth, and despite being a trickster spirit, ravens were popular on [[totem]]s, credited with creating man, and considered responsible for placing the Sun in the sky.<ref>{{cite web |title=Raven Releasing the Sun |url=https://www.nativeonline.com/raven.html |website=Native Online |access-date=30 July 2020}}</ref>

Due to their [[carrion]] diet, the [[Celts|Celtic]] peoples strongly associated corvids with war, death, and the battlefield; their great intelligence meant that they were often considered messengers, or manifestations of the gods, such as [[Bendigeidfran]] (Welsh for "Blessed Crow") or the Irish [[The Morrígan|Morrigan]] (Middle Irish for "Great Queen"),<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Clark |first=Rosalind |date=Autumn 1987 |title=Aspects of the Morrígan in Early Irish Literature |url=https://www.jstor.org/stable/25477680 |journal=Irish University Review |publisher=Edinburgh University Press |volume=17 |issue=2 |pages=223–236 |jstor=25477680 |access-date=20 September 2022 }}</ref> both who were [[otherworld|underworld deities]] that may be related to the later Arthurian [[Fisher King]]. The Welsh ''[[Dream of Rhonabwy]]'' illustrates well the association of ravens with war. In many parts of Britain, gatherings of crows, or more often magpies, are counted using the [[augury|divination rhyme]]: "''one for sorrow, two for joy, three for a girl, four for a boy, five for silver, six for gold, seven for a secret never to be told."'' Another rhyme is: "''one for sorrow, two for mirth, three for a funeral, four for a birth, five for heaven, six for hell, and seven for the Devil, his own sel."'' [[Cornish mythology|Cornish superstition]] holds that when a lone magpie is encountered, it must be loudly greeted with respect.

Various [[Germanic peoples]] highly revered the raven, and the raven was often depicted as a motif on shields or other war gear in [[Anglo-Saxon art]], such as the [[Sutton Hoo]] burial, and [[Vendel period]] art. The major deity, [[Odin]], was so commonly associated with ravens throughout history that he gained the [[kenning]] "Raven God,"{{efn|E.g. [[Icelandic (language)|Icelandic]]: ''hrafnaguð'', as per the ''[[Gylfaginning]]''.}} and the [[raven banner]] was the flag of various [[Viking Age]] [[Scandinavia]]n chieftains. Odin was also attended by [[Hugin and Munin]], two [[Common raven|ravens]] who flew all over the world, and whispered information they acquired into his ears.<ref name=Chappell/> The [[Valravn]] sometimes appeared in modern Scandinavian folklore. On a shield and purse lid excavated among the [[Sutton Hoo]] treasures, imagery of stylised corvids with scrolled beaks are meticulously detailed in the decorative enamel work. The corvid symbolism reflected their common [[totemic]] status to the Anglo-Saxons, whose pre-Christian [[Woden|indigenous beliefs]] were of the same origin as that of the aforementioned Vikings.

The sixth century BCE [[Ancient Greece|Greek]] scribe [[Aesop]] featured corvids as intelligent antagonists in many fables. Later, in western literature, popularized by American poet [[Edgar Allan Poe]]'s work "[[The Raven]]", the [[common raven]] becomes a symbol of the main character's descent into madness.

The children's book ''[[Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of NIMH]]'' and its [[The Secret of NIMH|animated film adaptation]] features a protagonist crow named Jeremy.

[[File:Corvus hawaiiensis FWS.jpg|thumb|The [[Hawaiian crow]] is [[extinct in the wild]] as a result of [[habitat loss]] and other factors.]]

===Status and conservation===
Unlike many other bird [[family (biology)|families]], corvid [[fitness (biology)|fitness]] and reproduction, especially with many crows, has increased due to human development. The survival and reproductive success of certain crows and ravens is assisted by their close relationship with humans.<ref name = m&n2006 />

Human development provides additional resources by clearing land, creating shrublands rich in berries and insects. When the cleared land naturally replenishes, jays and crows use the young dense trees for nesting sites. Ravens typically use larger trees in denser forest.<ref name = m&n2006 />

Most corvids are not threatened, and many species are even increasing in population due to human activity. However, a few species are in danger. For example, the destruction of the Southeast Asian rainforest is endangering [[mixed-species feeding flock]]s with members from the family Corvidae.<ref name=Lee/> Also, since its [[semiarid]] scrubland [[habitat]] is an endangered [[ecosystem]], the [[Florida scrub jay]] has a small and declining population.<ref name=BLI/><ref name=Breininger/> A number of island species, which are more vulnerable to [[introduced species]] and habitat loss, have been driven to extinction, such as the [[New Zealand raven]], or are threatened, like the [[Mariana crow]].

The [[American crow]] population of the United States has grown over the years. It is possible that the American crow, due to humans increasing suitable habitat, will cause [[Northwestern crow]]s and [[fish crow]]s to decline.<ref name=Marzluff/>