Trivia Question! Crows & Ravens

[Rich-D]

What is the difference if any, between a Crow and a Raven?
I know, but I ain't telling just yet!

[Dogdollar]

Folks......not my words, but a reflection of my experience....this from the internet.....


Many people use the terms 'raven' and 'crow' interchangeably, but they are actually quite different. Technically, since ravens belong to the crow (corvus) family of birds, they can be called crows - but not all crows are ravens. The two differ in a variety of ways.

Size
First, and most noticeably, ravens are larger than crows. They are (on average) about the size of a hawk, where crows are approximately the size of a pigeon.

Call
If you're familiar with the call which crows make, you'd probably recognize the raven's call as being different. Crows have a more nasal, higher pitched call, where a raven's call is lower, and hoarser... almost a croaking sound. I've frequently been approached by people saying "I heard this really funny-sounding crow the other day..." and when I ask "Was it a really big crow?" the answer has almost invariably been yes. In which case, chances are pretty good that it wasn't a crow at all, but a raven.


Tail feathers

Crows have a very fan-shaped tail, where raven's tails have more of a wedge-shape to them. This isn't very easy to tell if the bird is sitting on the ground, but when flying overhead, you can often get a good look at the shape of the tail.
raven's tail vs crow's tail

Feather shape

Ravens' feathers are also a slightly different shape than crows' feathers. Crow feathers tend to be more rounded at the tip, while ravens have feathers which are slightly pointed. This is most noticeable on the breast feathers, especially when the bird fluffs itself up. The feathers on the crow's breast lie comfortably against each other and provide a nice, even, rounded covering. The feathers on a raven lie a little more jaggedly, and when a raven fluffs up, its breast tends to look ragged. In fact, when a raven really fluffs up and all its feathers look like they're standing on end, the raven appears to have a short fluffy mane (called a 'ruff').

Habitat

Ravens and crows can often be found living side by side in the same areas, but where there's a choice, Ravens prefer wilder areas while crows will live quite close to cities. The bigger the city, the less likely ravens will make it their home -- and when they do, they tend to live in or near parks and natural spaces. Crows, on the other hand, are more likely to live near buildings, and will venture farther into human developments to compete for food.



There are more differences between crows and ravens, including their social habits and life span (ravens live longer), but these are the key points. They should help you determine whether the bird you're looking at is a raven or just a very large crow.

[Rich-D]

The Raven is often confused with its close relative, the Crow, but there are major differences between the two species that are especially apparent when crows and ravens are seen together. Ravens are much bulkier than crows, being over twice their weight, and more hawk-like in appearance and habit. Ravens have a massive bill that equips them better for predation and scavenging. The raven's head profile with a large, bulky bill and shaggy throat are characteristic field marks. In flight, ravens also have a more elongated appearance with a longer, wedge-shaped tail, proportionally longer wings, and a long head and bill. Their longer wings are even evident when ravens are standing or walking. They can be recognized by their distinctive head profile or flight silhouette alone. By contrast, crows seem to have broader wings and shorter, squared-off tails. Side by side, crows are much sleeker than the more robust ravens. Ravens are better equipped and more likely to soar than are crows, using their wedge-shaped tail to catch the wind. Ravens engage in spectacular aerial acrobatics, including flips, loops, rolls, and dives. Males will carry large sticks in flight while in courtship and nest-building.

Some estimates put the Crow population at more than three billion in North America An adult common crow weighs about 20 ounces; its body length is 15-18 inches and its wings span up to three feet. Both males and females are black from their beaks to the tips of their tails. Their feathers are iridescent, flashing highlights of blue, green and purple. Albinism occurs, producing pure or partial white coloration. The scientific species name brachyrhynchos means "short beak;" actually, the crow's beak is fairly large, 2-1/2 inches long and quite sturdy, but short compared to that of the closely-related raven.

Ravens are 20-25 inches in length, with a wingspread of about four feet. Their plumage is entirely black, with green and purple iridescence. Both sexes are colored alike; males are generally larger than females.

Ravens fly with flat wings while Crows seem to row through the air with their wings slightly raised when gliding. Both ravens and crows have a large vocabulary and it is difficult to describe their vocalizations in a few words. Overall, Ravens have a more hoarse and lower pitched voice with great carrying capacity. They are famous for their loud croaks, "hahs", and "bonks" as they fly high overhead. Crows generally vocalize with a higher pitched "caw" note, but juveniles give out a higher pitched, nasal "carr" note not unlike the very closely related Fish Crow. Crows recognize ravens as potential predators and rivals, so they will gang up and attack single ravens or pairs.

Ravens seem to need seclusion for successful reproduction. But they are becoming more tolerant of people. Each year, more seem to be nesting in closer proximity to civilization and entering towns in winter to feed on litter and garbage. Ravens may live as long as 35 years in the wild, but much less is normal.

If Crows locate an owl during the day, they will mob it -- swooping low, calling excitedly and attracting other crows, and generally harassing the bigger, less-maneuverable bird. They also mob hawks. In turn, crows are mobbed by smaller birds, especially kingbirds and red-wing blackbirds.

Crows are curious. Shiny objects fascinate them, and they have been known to fly off with bits of glass, rings, keys, etc. Crows exhibit their intelligence by imitating a large number of sounds, including whistles, cats, machines and the human voice. Crows have a good vocabulary -- a wide range of caws, crowing noises, coos, and other soft, melodious sounds they use to communicate with each other.

There's plenty of suitable habitat for Crows across the country today. Undoubtedly, the species will be with us indefinitely, especially since more and more people have a better understanding of crows and the beneficial services they provide.

Source: PA Game Commission

[Dingo]

I thought crows ravens and blackbirds were one and the same. Thanks for the education.