The Crow
Price range: $49.99 through $64.99
An American crow silhouette, laser cut from 1/8-inch steel, that taps into a tree trunk, wooden fence or post with a few hammer strikes. Choose Raw Steel, which arrives bare and rusts naturally outdoors to a warm brown patina with no paint or upkeep, or Black Powder Coat, the same piece finished in black. Cut to order in our shop in Texas and shipped free anywhere in the US.
- 30-day returns
- Damaged or wrong item replaced or refunded
Gallery photographs show bare or weathered raw steel. A black-finish photograph is not supplied.
Read the full story ↓They know your face, and they tell the others.
A researcher in Seattle wanted to test this, so he trapped a handful of crows while wearing a particular mask, banded them, and let them go. For years afterward the crows on that campus scolded anyone wearing that mask and ignored anyone wearing a different one. Not only the birds that had been caught — birds that had merely watched, and later, birds that had not been hatched yet. The grudge was taught.
So the reputation is deserved, though not quite in the way people mean it.
We had this one cut with its wings raised above the branch, which is how a crow stands when it is working something out.
They live in families. Young birds often stay on for several years and help raise the next brood rather than leaving to breed, and a family group may run to a dozen or more across several generations. In winter they gather to roost in numbers that are hard to describe to anyone who has not stood under one.
When a crow dies, the others come. They gather round it, make a great deal of noise, and afterward avoid the place. Nobody is entirely sure what the birds are doing. It is difficult to watch and not wonder.
Set this one high and in plain view. A crow has never once been subtle.
Also Perfect For
- Fall and Halloween yard decorating, all year after that
- Birthday gifts for a bird watcher or gardener
- Housewarming and new-home gifts
- Retirement gifts for someone with more time for the yard
Details
- Design: The American Crow, in full silhouette
- Size: 9.5" high × 11" wide (excluding branch); approx. 8 oz
- Material: 1/8-inch steel
- Finish: Choose Raw Steel (arrives bare, rusts naturally outdoors) or Black Powder Coat
- Mounting: Built-in hammer-in spike for trees, fences and wooden posts
- Packaging: Ships flat in a 17" x 14" mailer
- Made in Texas: Laser cut from American steel in our family-owned shop
How to Set It
1. Pick a spot on a tree trunk, wooden fence or post — eye level from a window is best.
2. Hold the spike at a slight downward angle against the wood.
3. Tap the thick end of the spike with a hammer or mallet until it is firm.
No drilling, no screws, no other tools.
The Finish
Pick your finish from the Finish menu on this listing.
Raw Steel (Rusts Naturally): Your bird arrives as bare, raw steel — a clean steel gray. Outdoors, rain and dew turn it a warm rust brown, usually over the first few weeks, and the color keeps deepening with the weather. There is no paint or coating, so there is nothing to peel, fade or touch up. While the rust is forming, rust-colored runoff can mark pale stone, concrete or siding directly below it, so set it over wood, soil or mulch. Prefer the bare steel look? Keep it indoors or out of the rain.
Black Powder Coat: the same steel piece, powder coated in black. It arrives black rather than bare, does not develop the rust patina, and leaves no rust runoff, so it can go over pale stone, concrete or siding. Wipe it clean with a damp cloth. If it ever gets chipped, a dab of black exterior metal paint touches it up.
Processing & Shipping
Cut to order in our shop in Texas. Please allow 2–4 business days before your order ships. Orders of $99.99 or more ship free within the United States; under that, shipping is a flat $14.92. We ship within the United States only.
Returns
100% satisfaction guaranteed. If you are not happy with your bird for any reason, message us within 30 days of delivery and we will make it right with a replacement or a full refund.
About Shadow Birds
Every Shadow Birds piece is cut from solid American steel and made in Texas. Browse the shop for more birds, Garden Folk, Seasonal & Holiday designs and Critters.
Questions? We're Glad to Help.
Send us a message anytime. Ordering several for a family, a memorial service, a garden club or a store? Just ask — we are happy to set up larger orders.