Crows

First appearance: Resident Evil 1

Arklay Crows

Infected crows appeared almost immediately after the first T-Virus was unleashed. They ate dead meat that had been infected with the virus, causing them to become infected themselves. Non-infected crows are naturally omnivorous, eating anything from bugs to plants and animals. It was just a matter of time before the T-Virus, which infects every living thing, made its way to crows as well. Once the infected crows go berserk and start attacking living humans, the process is complete.

These infected crows still maintain some characteristics of their normal counterparts. For example, they caw loudly to instill fear in their prey, and they move in groups. But everything else is completely different. In their natural form, crows are extremely sensitive to sound, and any loud noise is enough to drive them off. But infected crows don't flinch even at gunshots fired directly in front of them. Basically, crows rarely attack as long as their territory isn't disturbed, but when they do attack, they peck their targets with their sharp beaks fiercely and repeatedly.

Crows inhabit many environments, from woodlands to cities. Their wings allow them to carry the virus to distant locations, making them one of the prime factors in its sudden, dangerous spread.

Raccoon City Crows

The main difference between these crows and the Arklay ones is their choice of habitat. There aren't many other differences between them, except perhaps for increased aggression. They became infected the same way, by eating the dead bodies of creatures infected with the virus.

The crows that live in Raccoon Forest became infected by eating dead flesh and bugs carrying the virus. They have constructed several territories for themselves inside the mansion.