Sally and Ron and Jean did you know that your crows are members of the same family with the Steller Blue Jay? As are the ravens, rooks, jackdaws, jays magpies and nutcrackers. This afternoon, and very near to my own front door, I heard this Steller jumping from branch to branch, breaking dried twigs it seemed, and sometimes rattling, which dear Wikipedia indicates is the “sex-specific” vocalization for the female Steller. See how close – ten feet perhaps – she allowed me to approach her.
I love crows (and magpies and all others you have on your list here), but blue jays are the exception :): their rattling you allude can really get on your nerves, especially at dawn when you’re still trying to sleep. I’ll take crows, ravens, magpies and nutcrackers any day, but not these guys.