as it caught the sunlight

[suprunp]

A solitary crow sat perched on a large antenna, glaring at the area with disdain as it caught the sunlight.
(H. Murakami; 1Q84)

It seems to me that 'it' denotes 'a solitary crow' but is it possible that it could indicate something else?

Thanks.

[5jj]

It could be the area.

[Raymott]

A solitary crow sat perched on a large antenna, glaring at the area with disdain as it caught the sunlight.
(H. Murakami; 1Q84)

It seems to me that 'it' denotes 'a solitary crow' but is it possible that it could indicate something else?

Thanks.

The context would seem to indicate that it's the area that catches the sunlight. Sunlight falling on the area would make it visible to the crow, who would then be able to glare at it with disdain.
Sunlight falling on the crow shouldn't make a difference.
There's a small possibility that the crow caught (saw) the sunlight without the sunlight falling onto the area or the crow; and the crow nevetheless glared at the unsunlit area with disdain.