ID Tips: American Crow vs Common Raven

Flying across North America are two common but similar looking bird species, the crow and the raven. Both sporting a shiny black color, without any major distinguishing patterns, these corvid cousins can present identification problems in places where their ranges overlap. Fortunately, there are some ways to make a positive identification and answer the question, is that a crow or is that a raven? Before getting into it, it's worth noting that there are actually two different species of ravens that can be found in North America and three different species of crows, which we will discuss, but we will mostly focus on the two most abundant species, the American crow and the common raven. The first thing to look at in regard to differentiating these two birds is their range. American crows reside in the majority of the United States year round, with the exception of the most southwestern parts of the country. They have some movement during the summer and winter, moving farther north into Canada for the breeding season. A smaller species of crow, the fish crow, has a year round range along the Atlantic coast from New England all the way to Texas. There is also one more species, the tamalipis crow, that very rarely makes it into southern Texas, but hasn't been seen there recently. Common ravens have an extremely expansive global range that includes Europe, Asia, parts of northern Africa, Mexico, and Canada. In terms of the United States, common ravens are found in more forested and mountainous areas, including the western half of the continental U.S., Alaska, the northern parts of the Midwest, the Northeast, and the Appalachian mountain range. The other North American raven species, the chihuahuan raven, can be found in the southwestern U.S. Knowing which of these birds to expect in the part of the country you're in can be of tremendous help. However, if you're identifying a bird in one of the many areas where American crows and common ravens overlap, there are some other things you can pay attention to that will help you make a positive ID. The first of these are the vocalizations they make. American crows can produce a wide variety of noises, but their most common and well-known is their caw that usually repeats multiple times. The common raven makes a noise that is somewhat similar, but a lot more guttural and gruff. They also make various ticking and clicking noises as well. Getting well acquainted with the sounds these birds make can be a surefire way to identify them, but if they don't make any noises, there are still plenty of things to look out for. The first physical feature to note is size. The American crow has a typical length between 40 and 52 centimeters and a wingspan between 85 and 100 centimeters. While these measurements indicate a fairly sizable bird, similar to the size of a blue jay, it pales in comparison to the raven's 56 to 69 centimeter length and 116 to 117 centimeter wingspan, similar in size to a red-tailed hawk. In general, ravens will appear larger. Sometimes it's incredibly noticeable, but other times, especially if it's just one bird on its own, it can be difficult to judge the size, especially in flight. Speaking of birds in flight, tail shape is a great way to tell if you're looking at a crow or a raven. American crows have a rounded tail, and this shows well in flight. Common ravens have a more pointed tail that many people refer to as wedge-shaped. This difference in tail shape is one of the best ways to tell these two species apart when they're flying. Another thing to look at, whether in flight or perched, is the bill. Crows have a large bill, but it's not as large or heavy as the common raven's bill. This feature can sometimes be difficult to see because angles can make the bill look bigger or smaller depending on how the bird is turned. But when side by side, the difference is clear. One more thing to take note of is that the feathers around the throat of the American crow are smooth looking, while the same feathers of the common raven flare out, making their throat look thicker and a bit tattered compared to the crow. Overall, American crows will be smaller with a more streamlined appearance. They will have a slightly smaller bill, smoother neck feathers, and a rounded tail, while common ravens will be larger and more robust looking, with a thick and heavy bill, noticeably rugged looking necks, and a more pointed wedge-shaped tail. We hope you found this video helpful. If you want to see ID tips on other tricky identifications, take a look at one of our other videos. And as always, thanks for watching. We'll see you next time on Badgerland Birding.