HOLLAND, N.Y. — A group of crows is called a murder. Crows are depicted in movies as scary, sometimes evil birds, associated with death — but they’re also often seen as messengers, representing wisdom and intelligence.

One crow in particular could change everything you think about the bird. He has one million followers on TikTok alone. Jimini Crowket's story is an example of why we leave wildlife alone, despite his impeccable talent.

What You Need To Know

  • Jimini Crowket is an American Crow that was taken out of the wild when he was very young

  • He learned to talk by listening to a parrot's speaking lessons 

  • Jimini's mission is to educate people on the intelligence and life of crows 

“I know right? I know," Jimini said. 

Jimini Crowket knows a lot.

“He’s like a precocious 2-year-old that is constantly a 2-year-old,” said Margie Hanrahan, Jimini’s caretaker. “He just keeps me on my toes all the time. He's part of our family.”

“How are you?” Jimini asked. 

“And he talks,” Hanrahan smiled.

Jimini likes to interrupt Margie Hanrahan when he thinks she’s talking too much.

“He would take the dog food and line it up on top of the freezer, so when they open the door, all the dog food would fall out," she smiled. "Things like that. He's always into trouble,” Hanrahan said.

His mischievous ways weren’t on purpose. Hanrahan was teaching a parrot to talk. Jimini caught on.

“One day I came home and I heard someone say hello, and that was what I was teaching my parrot,” Hanrahan said. “But at the time, unbeknownst to me, I was like, I didn't know he could talk. And I thought it was my dad.”

Jimini is 11. Hanrahan has had him most of his life. A life she says he’s been robbed of.

“He is an American crow that was taken out of the wild when he was very young," Hanrahan said. "When crows come out of the nest, they're very big. So, people thought that he just couldn't fly.”

He was learning. Instead of calling a wildlife rehab center like Messinger Woods, where Hanrahan is president, they kept Jimini. Hanrahan says Jimini isn’t afraid of people and animals. Putting him back in the wild wasn’t an option.

“I ended up having to decide humanely euthanizing him or putting him into an educational program,” she said.

He’s been the boss of the family since.

Jimini offers a realistic take on crows.

“He could be lined up with a bunch of owls,” she said.

“How are you, how are you?” Jimini asked again.

“And he will upstage me just like that,” Hanrahan continued.

Upstaging and teaching people crows are intelligent family-orientated birds. Plus, he gives people a rare up-close look.

“So that is the membrane,” Hanrahan said. “Yeah, it cleans his eyes. It's like a third eyelid. Even your dogs have it.”

He loves baths, too. Like a child, he’s taught Hanrahan lessons over the past 10 years.

“He has taught me, how to laugh,” Hanrahan smiled. “He has taught me patience.”

“Let’s go, let’s go,” Jimini said.

“He says 'let's go' or 'goodbye' when he's had enough,” Hanrahan said. 

That’s our cue to wrap up Jimini’s story. Hopefully, he opened your heart and mind this Halloween to be friendly to the otherwise 'scary crow.' 

“Hello,” Jimini said.

As if we couldn’t love him even more, Jimini is also a big Tim Hortons fan.