How do American crows damage fruit crops?

American crows can cause damage to fruit crops primarily by pecking holes in apples. This behavior not only affects the quality of the fruit but can also lead to increased susceptibility to disease and pests. When crows peck at the fruit, they create openings that may allow pathogens to enter, resulting in rot or other forms of decay. Furthermore, once the fruit is damaged, it may attract other pests, compounding the issues for the crop yield.

While stealing fruit from trees and nesting in fruit trees are behaviors associated with crows, these actions typically do not cause the direct spoilage of the fruit itself like pecking does. Similarly, while crows can scare other birds away, this behavior does not lead to direct damage of the fruit. The focus on how pecking affects the integrity of the fruit makes this the most relevant method by which crows damage crops.