Ravens and Crows are both large, black birds, and are both part of the Corvidae family. They have many similarities, so how can you tell these two birds apart?
Photos by Gerald Romanchuk
The shape of their tail feathers is one indication. Crows have more rounded tails, where as Ravens have a more pointed tail. You can remember that by thinking that the crow has a C-shaped tail - C is for crow! Ravens have a v-shaped tail and there’s a letter V in the word Raven! Little memory tricks like these are very helpful for remembering details about birds and other wildlife.
Ravens are generally larger than Crows, and have much larger and more curved beaks. Another way to tell the two apart without seeing them up close is by their sounds. The American
Crow makes a “caw” sound, whereas the Common Raven makes a deeper croaking sound. In addition, Ravens tend to move in pairs, whereas their Crow counterparts travel in large flocks. Furthermore, Ravens tend to glide more, whereas crows flap their wings a lot more when flying around.
Let’s take a closer look at each of these large, black birds.
Common Raven (Corvus corax)
Photo by Gerald Romanchuk
Common Ravens can be quite large, some the size of common Alberta raptors, like the Red-Tailed Hawk. Ravens are considered to be one of the smartest birds in the province because of their unique behaviours, such as imitating the sounds of other animals, playing with sticks or golf balls, or using tools to solve problems like hard-to-reach foods.
Ravens have a vast range, and can be found all across Alberta in grasslands, cities, campsites, parks, and more. They lay between 4 and 6 eggs in their fur-lined nests built on power poles and large coniferous trees. They live in the province year-round, feeding on berries, insects, and roadkill.
American Crow (Corvus brachyrhynchos)
Photo by Gerald Romanchuk
American Crows are much smaller than the Common Raven, with a wingspan of 75 cm - half of the length of the Common Raven’s wingspan. Some Crows stay in Alberta for the entire year, while most others migrate south for the winter. Crows migrate in large groups called murders, sometimes numbering into the thousands.
Similar to the Common Raven, American Crows are found across Alberta in both urban and rural areas, and have similar nesting sites atop power poles and tall trees. As well, Crows are very intelligent creatures and are also very adaptable to different and changing environments. Crows are known for eating roadkill, berries, seeds, and even garbage.
Now that you’ve read this blog, hopefully you will have a better idea of which bird is which when you see them on your next outdoor excursion!